Press Release
Today’s vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was an important first step to give the President the authority he needs to take decisive action to deter the Assad regime from further use of chemical weapons and degrade its capacity to do so.
“I join in extending my wishes for a sweet and happy New Year to all who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah.
“Once again, our manufacturing sector is demonstrating its resilience and its great potential to drive economic growth and job creation. Today’s Institute for Supply Management report, showing strong gains for our manufacturing sector, ought to be a clear message that Congress must take steps to capitalize on these gains.
“I support the President’s call for authorizing limited but decisive military action in response to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons in Syria. While recognizing that the details of the authorization language have yet to be finalized, the use of chemical weapons, including against innocent children, is intolerable and cannot go unanswered.
"President Obama has carefully weighed the case for taking action along with our international partners to respond forcefully to the Syrian regime's deadly and nefarious use of chemical weapons. Now it is time for Congress, as the representatives of the American people, to do the same.
As our recovery continues, let us never forget that the strength of our economy depends on the skill and dedication of our workers, who remain the most productive in the world.
I continue to be deeply concerned about the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people – action which demands outrage from the international community and cannot be tolerated.
“Federal recognition for all legally married same-sex couples for the purposes of tax filing has been long overdue.
“Fifty years ago today, hundreds of thousands of Americans from all walks of life assembled on the National Mall to call for jobs, freedom, and full equality for all the people of our land.
The repeated use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government against its own people is an appalling and blatant violation of international laws and abuse of human rights that cannot be tolerated and must be condemned.