The House is very unlikely to come back into session before Sept. 9, despite what seems like the increasing likelihood of a U.S. attack on Syria, according to multiple senior level aides.
The House is in recess until Sept. 9, after both Labor Day and the Jewish new year. Members of Congress are spreadacross the country, and many are overseas on government- sponsored trips.
President Barack Obama’s administration has made the case that they would not need congressional approval for the kind of strike on Syria being considered by the administration. Some Republicans — Reps. Chris Gibson of New York and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, for example — told POLITICO that they think Obama should seek a congressional vote to authorize any use of force.
The House GOP leadership is mulling the possibility of some legislative response to the situation, but it’s not clear what that would be, since it’s not entirely certain if Obama is going to authorize military action. Senior aides said they’d have to feel out the mood of lawmakers when they return to Washington.
Calling the House back into session is not easy. Republican leadership generally gives members 48 hours notice that they need to be back on Capitol Hill. This is subject to change, of course, if the situation in Syria worsens.
House unlikely to return for Syria
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