Collins likely to vote 'yes' on training for Syrian rebels

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Appearing on Tuesday morning's Washington Journal on C-SPAN, Georgia's Ninth District Congressman Doug Collins said he likely will vote to authorize the training and arming of Syrian forces to fight against ISIS.<br /> <br /> Collins told C-SPAN host Bobbi Jackson that a measure approved by the Republican-led House likely would stop short of $500 million dollars in funding requested by President Obama.<br /> <br /> "It is a very limited authorization," said Collins. "It is taking it to our Department of Defense to basically do the training, of course, working with our intelligence community and others in that area."<br /> <br /> Collins, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he's not happy that the United States has been forced to take this stance.<br /> <br /> "The sad part about it is we pulled out of the region a few years ago, which I think has left the vacuum we're now having to come back into," said Collins.<br /> <br /> The Gainesville Republican said he does not believe air strikes alone will be enough to stop Islamic terrorists from continuing their destruction in Syria and other Middle East countries.<br /> <br /> A vote to arm and train Syrian rebel forces is expected in the House as early as Wednesday.<br /> <br /> <B>COLLINS INTRODUCES BILL TO STOP ISIL FUNDING</B><br /> <br /> Also this week, Collins introduced his second piece of legislation aimed at combating the Islamic State threat.<br /> <br /> Introduced Monday, the End Financing to ISIL Act, H.R. 5463, requires a classified report to Congress from the State and Treasury Departments identifying individuals in foreign countries who are funding ISIL and the actions those countries are taking to stop such activity. In the event a foreign government fails to take action against known ISIL financiers, Collins's bill authorizes President Obama to suspend arms sales or military aid to that country.<br /> <br /> Last week, Collins introduced the Visa Waiver Program Suspension Act. <i>(See link below for details.)</i><br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

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