Washington DC — U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), today introduced a joint resolution that would provide Congressional approval of a continued support role for the U.S. military activity in Libya. In accordance with the War Powers Act, Senator Cardin believes Congressional action is required if U.S. participation continues.

“President Obama made the right decision when he engaged U.S. Forces in the international effort to protect innocent civilians from being slaughtered by Qaddafi’s forces, but the mission cannot go on indefinitely and without Congressional debate and approval,” said Senator Cardin. “I applaud Senator Kerry for integrating key provisions into the final measure, including the following that I deemed critical to success:

• The measure must be an authorization;

• U.S. action must be limited in time and scope, in partnership with the NATO mission, as prescribed by UN Resolutions 1970 and 1973; and,

• The measure must have a prohibition on any U.S. ground troops.”

In addition to Senator Cardin, the bipartisan War Powers Resolution introduced today also was sponsored by SFRC Chairman Kerry and Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Carl Levin (D-MI), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Roy Blunt (R-MO).

###