Politico: “Speaker John Boehner is urging President Barack Obama to define the United States’ policy and mission in Syria, launching the opening salvo in what’s sure to be a turf battle between Congress and the White House over military intervention in the country. The letter, which was sent Wednesday afternoon, urges Obama to ‘make the case to the American people and Congress for how potential military action will secure American national security interests, preserve America’s credibility, deter the future use of chemical weapons, and, critically, be a part of our broader policy and strategy.’”
Roll Call: “Speaker John A. Boehner sent a letter to President Barack Obama Wednesday seeking a ‘clear, unambiguous explanation’ of how a strike on Syria fits into U.S. objectives and questioning the president’s legal authority to do so absent Congressional authorization.”
116 House members from both sides of the aisle sent a letter to the president asking him to get congressional approval before a strike on Syria.
NBC's Michael O'Brien & Tom Curry: "A growing minority of lawmakers in both parties are demanding that President Barack Obama seek approval from Congress before launching an attack against Syria. Most senior leaders in Congress appear content with the administration’s efforts to keep lawmakers abreast of what appears to be a fast-approaching military response to Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons against opponents in that country’s protracted civil war. But ahead of any possible military action, a chorus of voices is calling for at least a Congressional debate, if not an explicit vote authorizing the use of force."
National Journal: "According to several sources with direct knowledge of the situation, the Republican Study Committee—a group of 172 conservative House members—has barred Heritage Foundation employees from attending its weekly meeting in the Capitol. The conservative think tank has been a presence at RSC meetings for decades and enjoys a close working relationship with the committee and its members. But that relationship is now stretched thin, sources say, due to a series of policy disputes that culminated with a blowup over last month's vote on the the farm bill."