Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) are introducing bipartisan legislation to provide emergency authorization for providing defense services and training to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
KRG is the official government of Northern Iraq, known as Kurdistan, with an 111-member parliament and a directly elected president. The president of Kurdistan is also the commander-in-chief of the Peshmerga Armed Forces.
“The Iraqi Kurds have been a steadfast and capable partner of the United States, and this bill will help ensure they have the support they need in the fight against ISIL,” Sen. Boxer said.
Republican presidential candidates Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) have cosponsored the bill.
“ISIS is deadly and determined, and Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces – our critical partner in the fight against ISIS – need U.S. weapons as quickly as possible,” Sen. Ernst said in a statement.
This legislation, which, allows the president to give assistance to the Kurds in combating ISIS, was an opportunity for Sen. Paul to shed some of his Libertarian, isolationist image. Paul said on Tuesday:
“This Administration claims they need the legal authority to arm the Kurds. This bill removes any doubt that they have the authority and the renewed encouragement of Congress to provide our Kurdish allies the support they need to continue their fight against ISIS and radical Islam.”
The legislation would provide assistance for a three-year period, eliminating delays in bolstering the regional forces fighting against ISIS.