Today, with a vote of 123 to 295 the House of Representatives defeated a H.J. Res. 68 which would have granted President Obama limited authority to us U.S. forces to the conflict in Libya. 

“Today I voted against this resolution.  This bill requests that United States military force be involved in Libya as a part of the NATO mission to enforce United Nations Security Resolution 1973.  While I understand the importance of Libya’s stability, and the impending humanitarian crisis that this situation may cause, I do not support our resources being used for this conflict.  At a time when we are rebuilding our nation, it is important to ensure that we focus our resources on the many domestic issues that we have to deal with.

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke also voted against H.R. 2278 which would limit the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for United States Armed Forces in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Operation Unified Protector with respect to Libya, unless otherwise specifically authorized by law.  

“I voted against H.R. 2278 because it did not go far enough in addressing the funding restraints necessary to ensure that our involvement in Libya does not turn into another long-term war. It is not clear how much money will be invested in Libya, as well as our troop’s reason for being in the country, given the parameters set forth by the bill.

“As the representative of the people of the 11th Congressional District of New York, who are suffering from unemployment, massive foreclosure issues, exploding food cost, state-wide budgetary cuts, substantial layoffs, increasing gang violence, and much more…we can no longer utilize our resources for military conflicts overseas, when we need them so desperately at home.” 
   
 

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