Guest speaker United States Congressman Ted Yoho (R-Fla. 3rd District).

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ted Yoho (FL-03), who serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has introduced legislation to prohibit military assistance in Syria. If passed, the bill would not allow the distribution of funds to aid opposition forces in Syria.

“Anyone who thinks that arming rebel opposition in Syria is a good idea should learn lessons from our past,” Congressman Yoho said. “These same policies have created monsters in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the globe. The Syrian ‘opposition’ is a mix of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood of Syria and organizations that have pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda. To think we can guarantee any assistance won’t come to the aid of the groups that mean us harm is naïve at best and fatal at worst. I don’t believe arming anyone in Syria makes any American safer.”

The bill, designated H.R. 2503, includes findings that state the nature of the opposition forces in Syria. The full bill text is as follows:


A Bill:

To prohibit the obligation or expenditure of funds to provide military assistance to opposition forces in Syria. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.

Section 1 – Findings:

Congress finds the following:

1. The opposition forces in Syria include the Al-Nusra Front, the Muslim Brotherhood of Syria, and other jihadist organizations.

2. The Al-Nusra Front has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.

3. United States law prohibits the transfer of funds or material assistance to known terrorist organizations.

4. The Obama Administration has not outlined a clear and definitive plan for United States involvement in Syria.

Section 2 – Prohibition of military assistance to opposition forces in Syria:

No funds made available to the Department of Defense or any other United States Government department or agency may be obligated or expended to provide military assistance to opposition forces in Syria.