Kucinich Leads Group To Force Debate On Afghanistan
Today, Representative Dennis Kucinich introduced a resolution, H. Con Res. 248, that would force a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives about whether to rescind the open-ended authorization for the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.
Speaking on Wednesday about his intent to file the resolution, Kucinich explained, “I believe in this Congress, and I believe in the Constitution of the United States. And I think moments arise in the history of this institution when we have to take a stand for the Constitution. That’s why this Thursday I will introduce a privileged resolution that will call for Congress to reclaim its power under Article I, Section 8 as to whether or not we stay in Afghanistan. Now, some people here may believe in that mission. I don’t. Some people here may believe in the surge. I don’t. Some people here may believe that we should stay there for as long as it takes to do whatever we want. I don’t. I believe that Congress, though, needs to speak and to have a debate on Afghanistan and to be able to decide in our wisdom, if we so choose, to get out of Afghanistan, which is what I hope that we do. “
The following members of the House of Representatives, 13 Democrats and 3 Republicans, have cosponsored Kucinich’s privileged resolution:
John Conyers
Ron Paul
José Serrano
Bob Filner
Lynn Woolsey
Walter Jones
Danny Davis
Barbara Lee
Michael Capuano
Raúl Grijalva
Tammy Baldwin
Tim Johnson
Yvette Clarke
Eric Massa
Alan Grayson
Chellie Pingree
