Non Pareil Online - Young: All Options on Table in Fight Against Islamic State
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By Tim Rohwer
All options must be on the table to defeat the Islamic State, U.S. Rep. David Young, R-3rd District, said Thursday.
When asked if he would support U.S. ground troops to combat the Islamic extremist group, Young said, "I support all options. We should allow our generals and commanders the flexibility to get things done. If we pass something, it can't tie the hands of our generals and commanders. We have to allow them to do their jobs."
Iowans want more leadership from President Obama to ensure the defeat of the Islamic State, Young said during a Council Bluffs stop on his tour of the district. "They want us to have a strategy," added the freshman Congressman, who described ISIS as a "death cult" and "evil."
On his tour of the 16-county district during this off week in Washington, D.C., Young is hearing plenty of concerns from local residents, he said.
"People are talking about Keystone (XL Pipeline)," he said.
The House, with Young's support, and the Senate have approved construction of the oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast. The president, however, has threatened to veto it. Young believes Congress will try to muster enough votes to override that veto, but if not, perhaps attach the legislation as a "rider" with some other bill in the hope of Obama's acceptance.
"We shouldn't give up. It's about jobs, energy independence (and) national security."
The House also approved $39.7 billion to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of this fiscal year, he added. The bill, however, will not fund any amnesty action from the president. The ball is now in the Senate's court.
"The goal here is to defund the president's executive amnesty," Young said.
Young has returned home most weekends since taking over the seat held by Tom Latham in January, except for one weekend to tour the U.S.-Mexico border for a look at immigration reform issues.
"I went with others to get a first-hand account of what the problems are and the viewpoints from border patrol officers, ranchers and sheriffs."
More enforcement of current laws on the books is needed, he said.
"That's where we have to start (toward reform)."
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