Pennsylvania’s federal legislators have pledged their support following President Donald Trump’s decision on Thursday to retaliate after chemical attacks in Syria killed innocent civilians.
On Friday, U.S. Rep Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa, and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., each responded similarly to retaliation against the Assad regime.
Bashar al-Assad is the current president and commander of the Syrian Armed Forces, which were responsible for the chemical attacks that took place last Thursday.
For his part, Thompson said that, “The (Trump) administration acted in a precise manner, sending a clear message that these atrocities will not be tolerated.”
Toomey mentioned that he is looking forward to the president and Congress working together on the next steps in Syria. He also voiced his concerns surrounding further U.S military intervention because of the “possible risks for military personnel, and national security implications.”
Casey also spoke in support of Trump’s decision to retaliate, but went on to call for restructuring of the Authorization for the Use of Military Force.
“Members of Congress have a responsibility to debate these actions and cast a vote on an AUMF if the president plans to continue military action,” he said.
Casey went a step further in his statement, implying that the focus should not be placed solely on Assad.
“Russia and Iran need to be held accountable for their continued support of the Assad regime,” he said, adding that his bipartisan legislation with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., “is essential to achieving that goal.”
Casey ended his statement with mentions of relief for Syria.
“The president should also accelerate humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people and seriously reconsider his discriminatory travel ban that would deny the Syrian women and children who are victims of this terrible violence the opportunity to resettle safely in the U.S after appropriate vetting by our government,” he said.