10/21/19 - Rep. Roy posted the following to Facebook: "LATEST OP-ED:

Members of Congress should look in the mirror for answers to the unfolding events in the Middle East.

In the wake of expressed concerns over the president’s Syria announcement, we see the consequences of bipartisan congressional failure to carry out our Constitutional duty to authorize military force through a declaration of war. We have never explicitly voted on war in Syria or the counter-ISIS mission.

None of us want to see Erdogan attack Kurds, America have to destroy its own bases in a rushed departure, ISIS terrorists potentially escape, or adversaries such as Russia or Iran be emboldened. Indeed, I have heard from a number of veterans who expressed their desire we not abandon those they fought alongside against ISIS.

But I have heard from even more of our servicemen and women who do not want to see fellow soldiers die on an ill-defined battlefield. These are the people from whom I hear every day concerned about less than 1% of our population defending us and carrying the burden of a 4th, 5th, or 6th tour of duty. This is why President Trump is not wrong in his desire to limit the depth of American engagement abroad in ways that continue to exhaust the blood and treasure of the American people in conflicts without clear paths to victory and termination.

Though rarely discussed, we operate extensively with thousands of servicemen and women deployed in over twelve countries under an 18-year-old AUMF. In other words, we have warriors enlisting who will serve in expansive ways under an authorization passed before they were born.

Think about that. How do we look our constituents in the eye and tell them their sons, daughters, husbands, or wives are properly risking their lives in defense of our nation when Congress is too spineless to exercise its Article I authority to put its mouth where its money is? If we believe there is a battle to be fought and there is blood and treasure worth spending for our national security then Congress should affirmative say so, and own it. And once more, the American people should know what Congress thinks and then feel part of the shared sacrifice to commit our loved ones to such danger.

If we think continuing counter terror missions in the Middle East is in our national interest after twenty years – which very well may be the case, Congress should revisit our objectives and vote. If we are also concerned because the same administration that declares we should get out of Syria because of “endless wars” simultaneously sends thousands more U.S. servicemen and women to Saudi Arabia - without a clear explanation as to purpose or mission – Congress should act, and vote.

Of course, instead of debating and voting on our affirmative presence in Syria this week, the House held a vote on a resolution. Rather than addressing the issue, we held another political “message” vote that accomplishes nothing. I voted “present.”

I did so for two reasons. On the one hand, voting in favor of the resolution would both imply the wisdom of a continued presence in Syria without a specific authorization based vaguely on an 18-year-old AUMF. On the other hand, voting against the resolution would have suggested that I am not concerned about the 10,000 ISIS terrorists that are at risk of being set free, Turkey’s aggression towards the Kurds, the impact on our allies, and the potential implications regarding Russian and Iranian influence in the region. Neither of these are statements I can support.

The bottom line is this: Congress never voted to send forces to Syria (or, for that matter, in Saudi Arabia). If we think forces should still be in Syria for the national security interests of the United States and/or our key allies – which may well be the case to support Israel, to protect against ISIS resurgence, or to prevent Russia, Iran, or other negative forces to monopolize the region – then the administration should brief Congress, we should deliberate, and we should take specific action. For the sake of the men and women in uniform of the United States, we should act decisively, clearly, and with a definable, achievable mission." View the Facebook post here.