Boehner: ISIS war vote could come by spring

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Wednesday said Congress will consider a new authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by the spring.

Following a closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference, Boehner told reporters he expects the White House to send Congress a new proposal.

“I expect the president is going to send an authorization to the Congress. I expect that we will have hearings on that, and that we will in fact have a debate and a vote on it. Timing has yet to be determined,” Boehner said.

{mosads}Boehner then suggested it could all happen within a few months. 

In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Obama called on Congress to pass a new AUMF despite saying previously he had the authority to authorize military operations against ISIS. 

“And tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL,” Obama told Congress, using an alternate acronym for the terror group.

A number of lawmakers have urged Congress to consider a new AUMF for months and Boehner has repeatedly said it’s the White House’s responsibility to send one to Capitol Hill.  

Obama did not indicate in his address that the White House would prepare a proposal.