SC Alaska News

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has released a statement regarding her recent vote on Senate Joint Resolution 83, which concerns military action against transnational criminal organizations designated as foreign terrorist organizations.

"Last night, I voted to support a motion to discharge from committee a resolution that would terminate military hostilities against transnational criminal organizations newly designated as foreign terrorist organizations without the express approval of Congress. To be clear, this resolution does nothing to hold back the United States from defending itself against an armed attack or imminent threat," Murkowski stated.

She explained that she had received a briefing from the administration earlier in the day but found it insufficient. "I was briefed by the administration just this afternoon, but aspects of the briefing were lacking—including a failure to provide the opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel being used as justification for these actions. While I commend the administration’s concerted efforts to address the devastation of drug trafficking on communities across the country, I do not believe the information I have received justifies this interpretation of the President’s Article II powers."

Murkowski emphasized her constitutional responsibilities: "I take very seriously my Article I responsibility when it comes to Congress’s power to declare war. I don’t think that full information on the legal and factual justification for armed attacks on suspected drug traffickers is too much to ask."

She also noted that bringing the resolution to the Senate floor would have allowed more time for review and decision-making. "Allowing this resolution to come to the Senate floor would have provided the administration with ample time to furnish Congress with additional information. I would have used that information to make a final decision on how to vote on the underlying resolution."

The debate over war powers continues in Congress, with some lawmakers seeking greater oversight over executive military actions, especially those targeting non-state actors involved in drug trafficking.