The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 04, 2013
Statement by the Press Secretary
This afternoon, on a bipartisan basis, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution authorizing U.S.
military action in Syria. We commend the Senate for moving swiftly and for working across party lines on behalf of our
national security. We believe America is stronger when the President and Congress work together. The military action
authorized in the resolution would uphold America's national security interests by degrading Assad's chemical weapons
capability and deterring the future use of these weapons, even as we pursue a broader strategy of strengthening the
opposition to hasten a political transition in Syria. We will continue to work with Congress to build on this bipartisan
support for a military response that is narrowly tailored to enforce the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons, and
sufficient to protect the national security interests of the United States of America.
ENDS