Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member for allowing us to bring up this important issue, basically this amendment and the failed Syria train and equip program. The failures of this program have been well documented and have resulted, ultimately, in strengthening groups like ISIS and al Qaeda with American taxpayer-funded weapons.

Many of us voted against this program when it first came before Congress in 2014. We predicted the program would fail, and it did. We ended up arming so-called moderate opposition fighters who did not share our objective of fighting ISIS. Instead, they were and remain primarily focused on overthrowing Assad, which, if successful, would strengthen groups like ISIS and al Qaeda, allowing them to take over all of Syria, creating an even worse humanity crisis and an even greater threat to the world.

The current program this bill funds is even worse. It only vets the commanders of so-called moderate Syrian opposition forces. Once the commander finishes some very limited training, then the U.S. provides arms and equipment to the entire brigade with no vetting or screening of the thousands of men who make up these units. Most concerning of all is nowhere in this bill or in the NDAA does it state that this program is limited to training and equipping only those who are fighting against ISIS and al Qaeda.

Our strategy against fighting ISIS and al Qaeda in Syria right now is not working.

We are waging two wars in Syria, providing arms and support to groups that have opposing objectives. The first war is a counterproductive one to overthrow the Syrian Government of Assad, which must end. And the second is our war to defeat ISIS, al Qaeda, and other jihadist groups, which we must win. By helping groups fighting to overthrow Assad, we are essentially helping ISIS and al Qaeda achieve their objective of taking over all of Syria.

Some may argue that this program is the only tool we have to fight against ISIS and al Qaeda in Syria. This is false. If this amendment is passed, we can end this failed program and continue to support trusted partners on the ground, like the Kurds and Syrian Arabs, who have proven their effectiveness and commitment to our shared objective of defeating ISIS and al Qaeda through other counterterrorism authorities and funds.

I ask my colleagues to support this amendment and vote ``yes'' on Gabbard-Welch amendment No. 42.

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Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch), my colleague.

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Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments from my colleague from Vermont.

I would just like to make a point of clarification that this amendment would not stop our air strikes against ISIS. Those air strikes are funded through funds for Operation Inherent Resolve, which this amendment has nothing to do with. This amendment simply prohibits funds that are solely directed towards the Syria Train and Equip Program, section 1209.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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