Congressman Cohen Statement on House Passage of Bill to Prevent Government Shutdown, Authorize Training of ISIS Opposition

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) released the following statement after the United States House of Representatives passed H.J.Res.124, which will prevent another government shutdown this year and includes language authorizing the United States to train and equip appropriately vetted Syrian opposition groups, as President Obama requested:

“Congress has a responsibility to both keep our government running and keep the American people safe. I am pleased that today, many on both sides of the aisle came together to prevent yet another government shutdown and support President Obama’s plan to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIS.”

“While I do not agree with everything in this bill—including across-the-board cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the LIHEAP program millions of Americans need to keep their homes from freezing in the winter, and the Head Start program that helps prepare Memphis children for school—those programs and countless more would be harmed far more if our government were to shut down once again.”

“If ISIS succeeds in creating its extremist caliphate, it will pose a threat to freedom, democracy, tolerance, diversity, and the United States of America. After many briefings with senior officials from the Department of Defense as well as the State Department, listening to my constituents and much thought, I believe it is in America’s best interests to support the President’s strategy which includes building an international coalition to confront ISIS, training and equipping moderate Syrians who can bring the fight to these terrorists’ doorstep, and providing humanitarian assistance to avert the genocide of religious minorities in the region.”