X

Rep. Owens votes for Obama’s plan to combat ISIS, and to fund U.S. government temporarily

Posted 9/18/14

North Country Rep. Bill Owens voted Wednesday to support the President Obama’s plan to fight the terrorist group ISIS, and another measure to fund the government through Dec. 11. Both measures …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Rep. Owens votes for Obama’s plan to combat ISIS, and to fund U.S. government temporarily

Posted

North Country Rep. Bill Owens voted Wednesday to support the President Obama’s plan to fight the terrorist group ISIS, and another measure to fund the government through Dec. 11.

Both measures passed in the House of Representatives and await action in the Senate.

The plan to combat ISIS includes $500 million to train and arm vetted Syrian rebels.

“ISIS represents a barbarous and dangerous threat to the United States and the world and we must take swift decisive action to stop it,” said Owens. “Congress has a constitutional responsibility to define the scope of our response to this threat and I am pleased that our vote today has reaffirmed this precedent.”

Owens said Wednesday’s House vote is not the last word Congress will have in the conduct of the effort to defeat the Mideast security threat.

“While this vote advances our national security, Congress must remain engaged on this issue and be mindful that the actions we approved today do not lead us further into a broader conflict in the region. To that end I strongly support efforts to work together with other nations, especially those nations facing an imminent threat of violence from ISIS.

“The American public should be keenly aware of the possibility that any group we fund, train and equip for the current conflict could shift loyalties and come into conflict with U.S. interests in the future. However the imminent threat posed by ISIS leaves us without any preferable options at this time.”

Owens also voted for a continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown and extend current funding levels through Dec. 11.

“I am pleased that we were able to keep the government open and avoid another catastrophic shutdown but I am disappointed that we continue to rely on these temporary stopgap measures without broader budgetary compromise,” Owens said.

“Some additional provisions in this resolution will help drive private sector growth in the district and organizational reform at the VA. I support these individual measures but believe we still need a long-term budget solution that would responsibly reduce our national debt, overcome partisan politics, and clear the way for a stronger economic recovery.”

The resolution increases funding for the VA disability claims backlog as well as for investigations into complaints from VA patients about medical care and retaliation for whistleblowing complaints from VA staff, a press release from Owen’s office said..

It also includes a provision that would extend the existing ban on taxes on internet access, bandwidth and email.

It would also reauthorize the Export-Import Bank through June 30, 2015.

Owens, a Plattsburgh Democrat, is not seeking another term as 21st District representative.