House Republican calls for Congress to return from recess early

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) said that Congress should come back to Washington as soon as possible to debate authorizing military force against Islamic extremists.

Both the House and Senate are on recess until Nov. 12. Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said he would only call Congress back before the elections if President Obama specifically requests Congress vote on a new authorization of military force against the extremist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL).

{mosads}Nonetheless, Fortenberry said members should return to debate the issue sooner rather than after the elections.

“Considering the scope of the military action and the serious nature of the ISIL threat, we should not wait until November for a constructive debate on the legal authority and the President’s plan,” Fortenberry said.

The Nebraska Republican said Congress shouldn’t risk appearing passive about airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.

“Congress needs to be intimately involved on questions of duration and the extent of the action,” Fortenberry said.