Sen.-elect Thom Tillis (R) of North Carolina and Sen.-elect Gary Peters (D) of Michigan called on Congress Sunday to debate a measure authorizing military strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

ADVERTISEMENT

They added to the growing chorus of voices in the Senate calling for a debate on the politically sensitive issue of authorizing another military campaign in the Middle East.

“I think it’s essential that Congress come to the table,” Peters said, noting that lawmakers haven’t had a classified briefing on ISIS “for quite some time now.”

“Congress needs to be intimately involved in these decisions,” he said, arguing that the United States shows more strength in the world community when its executive and legislative branches are united.

“I think it would probably be wise so that you move forward again,” Tillis said. “The president and the Congress need to find opportunities to show some way of coming together.

“That would be a show of good faith from the president and I think it would give Congress more confidence they’re part of the process,” he added.

Tillis said he would vote for a use-of-force resolution.

Senate leaders are not inclined to vote on the issue before the year’s end and Speaker John Boehner John Andrew BoehnerLongtime House parliamentarian to step down Five things we learned from this year's primaries Bad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks MORE (R-Ohio) says it should wait until next year.

Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineNames to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court Barrett seen as a front-runner for Trump Supreme Court pick Biden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states MORE (D-Va.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has been leading the push for a vote on a new use-of-force resolution.

He is in talks with Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulSecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill MORE (R-Ky.) about teaming up on the effort.

Paul, who also sits on the Foreign Relations panel, has urged Congress to declare war against ISIS.

Earlier this month President Obama deployed 1,500 American soldiers to Iraq to train and advise Iraqi and Kurdish troops fighting the Sunni militant movement.