House leaders planning Wednesday vote on Syria

The House will vote Wednesday on aiding moderate rebels in Syria as an amendment to legislation funding the government, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Monday after a GOP leadership meeting.

{mosads}The majority leader expressed confidence that the House will approve the Title X authority that President Obama has requested to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“I think it will be bipartisan work on both sides,” McCarthy said, adding that he’s been keeping in touch with House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

“Any time you deal with a situation this serious, I think you can come as an American, not from a party perspective,” he added.

The House will start debate Tuesday on the continuing resolution (CR) and the amendment, with debate likely to carry over into Wednesday. The debate on the spending bill will be brief, about an hour, McCarthy said, while debate on the Title X authority for equipping the Syrian rebels could last around six hours.

The House Rules Committee is expected to meet Monday evening to move forward with the spending bill and the amendment on Title X authorization.

McCarthy said it’s possible the House will hold another vote providing authorization for the use of military force against Islamic militants after the midterm elections.

“I think after November, there’s an opportunity and probably a debate for that, seeing what transpires. I know a lot of members would want to start to have that debate or have that discussion,” he said.

McCarthy said he doesn’t think the extension of the Export-Import Bank will derail the spending bill despite the fierce opposition of conservative groups.

He noted that House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), who is a vocal critic of the bank, has said he will support the spending bill.