Virginia's Congressmen and Senators responded to President Trump's Syria strike largely along party lines.

Senator Mark Warner (D)

Congressman Scott Taylor (R)

Congressman Dave Brat (R)

Congressman Don Beyer (D)

"This strike represents an escalation of U.S. involvement in the Syrian Civil War. It should have been subject to congressional debate and authorization, and certainly that must be a precondition for any further engagement."

Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R)

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D)

Dozens of Syrian civilians died last week in a chemical weapons attack perpetrated by the Bashar al Assad regime in Syria. In response, President Donald Trump fired 59 Tomahawk missiles – collectively, more than 50,000 pounds of explosives – at the Syrian air base linked to the gas attack. Here is how Virginia's Congressmen and Senators responded to President Trump's Syria strike.Sen. Warner declared that the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons was a "heinous crime" and "could not go unpunished." He called on President Trump to present a comprehensive Syria strategy to Congress because the "consequences of a misstep are grave." https://twitter.com/MarkWarner/status/850355365913014272Sen. Kaine - Hillary Clinton's Vice Presidential runningmate in 2016 - condemned Bashar al Assad's use of chemical weapons but ultimately declared President Trump's Syria strike to be "unlawful" and "unconstitutional." https://twitter.com/timkaine/status/850187318820564996 https://twitter.com/timkaine/status/850368274202284032Rep. Wittman released a statement praising the strike, and declared that he would work with his colleagues and the administration to craft a comprehensive strategy for Syria. He also said that the best way to accomplish that is for Congress to pass a new Authorization for Use of Military Force. https://twitter.com/RobWittman/status/850365759134081024Rep. Taylor appeared on Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight the night of the Trump administration's Tomahawk strike against the Syrian air base. "The world is watching for the United States to lead," Taylor said, "whether that is in airstrikes or whether that is simply saying we are going to bring a coalition of the willing to bring an end to this war." Taylor - a former-Navy SEAL - said that he believes President Trump has the legal and constitutional authority for short-term strikes. "But it is important to say that this is the second administration that is operating off of an Authorization for Use of Military Force from a third administration 16 years ago. So that being said, I think it is important that the American people - via their representatives in Congress- take a debate up."Rep. Brat condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria as well as the previous administration's inability to prevent future attacks from happening. "We do not need more meaningless red lines. It is the moral imperative for America to lead."Rep. Beyer released a statement calling Syrian President Bashar al Assad a "monster," but he also criticized the Trump administration for not consulting Congress before launching this strike.Beyer also demanded more humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees, including the cessation of the administration's "extreme vetting" policies for Middle Eastern refugees seeking to resettle in the United States.Rep. Comstock released a statement praising the administration's Syria strike and condemning the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against its own people. The Congresswoman also praised the military servicemen and women who initiated the strike, saying that "our men and women in the Armed Forces have proven their skill in projecting American power when it is called upon in the face of this cowardly attack."Rep. Connolly seemed to praise the administration's Syria strike, suggesting that similar action should have come four years prior. He blamed Congress for the Obama administration's inaction and urged the creation of a comprehensive Syria strategy moving forward.