President Barack Obama delivered a statement Thursday evening thanking members of Congress for voting to approve legislation granting the U.S. military the authority to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels fighting against the terrorist group known as the Islamic State.
In a statement from the White House, Obama noted that the measure received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, with a majority of Democrats and a majority of Republicans in both chambers voting for the bill.
"As I said last week, I believe that we're strongest as a nation when the President and Congress work together," Obama said.
He added, "And I want to thank leaders in Congress for the speed and seriousness with which they approached this urgent issue -- in keeping with the bipartisanship that is the hallmark of American foreign policy at its best."
The president's statement came after the Senate voted 78 to 22 in favor of the proposal as part of a larger spending bill to temporarily fund the government.
Forty-five Democrats and thirty-three Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while nine Democrats, twelve Republicans and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., were opposed.
The opposition to the idea of arming the rebels reflected a wide range of concerns, including fears that the weapons will wind up in the hands of terrorists and worries that Obama's plans do not go far enough.
Even lawmakers that voted in favor of the bill expressed some skepticism, with several stressing that the authorization is temporary.
Congressional leaders have indicated that lawmakers will have a broader debate on the issue following the midterm elections in November.
Meanwhile, Obama declared that the strong bipartisan support in Congress shows the world that Americans are united in confronting the terrorist threat.
"As Americans, we do not give in to fear," Obama said. "And when you harm our citizens, when you threaten the United States, when you threaten our allies -- it doesn't divide us, it unites us."
He added, "We pull together, we stand together -- to defend this country that we love and to make sure justice is done, as well as to join with those who seek a better future of dignity and opportunity for all people."
Obama has repeatedly vowed to degrade and destroy the Islamic State, which has seized control of parts of Iraq and Syria and is responsible for the beheadings of two American journalists as well as a British aid worker.
The vote in the Senate came a day after the House voted 273 to 156 in favor of the measure to train and arm the Syrian rebels and 319 to 108 in favor of the broader spending bill.
The continuing resolution maintains government funding at current levels through December 11th and avoids another potential government shutdown at the end of the month.
The bill also extends the operating authority of the Export-Import Bank through June 30, 2015, a move opposed by some conservative lawmakers.
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