WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement today regarding the President’s announcement that he will seek Congressional approval to conduct military action in Syria:

“I believe the President is right to seek the support and approval of the United States Congress before moving forward with military action against the Assad regime.”

“As a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, I have been closely monitoring the situation in Syria, including the recent and troubling reports of chemical weapons attacks, and last month I traveled to Jordan and Turkey to gain a better understanding of the impact of the conflict on U.S. national security interests in the region.

"The conflict in Syria is incredibly complex and we must be extremely mindful of the ramifications of any actions we may pursue. As we proceed with this important debate, it is crucial to me that the Administration identifies regional coalition partners, sets out the intelligence case for concluding that chemical weapons were used by the Assad regime as clearly as possible, and that it identifies its objectives and plans to achieve them with equal clarity.

“I will review the evidence and arguments with great care before deciding how I will vote on this difficult and important issue."

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