In a move that is sure to set off a new round of debate over how the U.S. should fight ISIS, the Obama administration is expected to seek formal authorization for using military force against the extremist group today.
White House officials have framed the request after meeting with members of both parties in Congress, where it will come under close scrutiny before it is voted upon.
This morning, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told NPR's Morning Edition that a draft version of the new Authorization for the Use of Military Force, or AUMF as it's known, will be sent to Congress Wednesday.
Kaine says President Obama will ask Congress to authorize ground troops, with a prohibition on their use in "enduring offensive combat missions."
"They will send an authorization draft proposal today," Kaine says. "I haven't seen the final language yet, but I understand some of the concepts, and some of the concepts I like."
He mentioned a "sunset provision" that would require a new justification for continuing the mission after three years. Kaine also said the new legislation would repeal the previous authorization for using force in Iraq.
"It's not good to have these previous war authorizations kind of floating out there" to be used years later.
The effort has been a balancing act, with a key issue being the possible role of ground troops: Republicans say they don't want to limit the Pentagon's approach, while Democrats are wary of giving the OK to an open-ended conflict.
"On Capitol Hill, there is going to be an extended debate, discussion, and argument over exactly what the Authorization for the Use of Military Force should say, what the limits should be," NPR's Tamara Keith reports.
The new AUMF would replace the authorization that was provided to President Bush in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. It would set new parameters for the U.S. to follow as it tries to combat ISIS, the violent group that has claimed territory in Iraq and Syria.
"There's high skepticism on Capitol Hill that the earlier authorizations cover" the military operations the U.S. has already conducted against ISIS, Kaine said.
As Tamara reported for the Two-Way yesterday, the effort to shape the legislation has included a wide range of administration officials, from White House Counsel Neil Eggleston to National Security Advisor Susan Rice.
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