Washington, DC- Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) issued the following statement after the House passed legislation that would grant President Obama authority to provide certain weapons and training to the Free Syrian Army, moderate Syrian rebels who have recently been battling ISIS:

"While I recognize this plan is not perfect, nor will it ultimately be enough to crush ISIS, we must give our Commander in Chief the tools he has requested to confront this evil," said Congressman Kinzinger. "This is only a first step in a long fight to ensure we are safe from brutal extremists who would gladly take innocent American lives if given the chance."

Kinzinger is a U.S. Air Force Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and currently serves as a major in the Air National Guard (ANG). He has been calling for air support in Iraq since January, and last year he criticized President Obama's inaction in Syria against the Assad regime.

In addition to training and equipping elements of the Syrian opposition to fight ISIS, the legislation, H.J. Res. 124, funds the federal government at current levels through December 11th, 2014, avoiding the possibility of a shutdown. It also reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank until June 30th, 2015. The bill passed the House with a vote of 319 to 108.

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