Congress appears to be in no hurry to weigh in on the U.S. fight against the Islamic State group, even as military operations ramp up in the Middle East.

President Obama has asked lawmakers to pass a new authorization of military force for missions in Iraq and Syria by the end of the year. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R- Ky., publicly pushed his colleagues earlier this month to take up the issue as soon as possible.

But with only a few days left in the 2014 legislative session, no credible plan for a new force authorization has emerged, and most lawmakers seem resigned to the idea of not addressing the question until sometime next year.

By then, the military will be more than five months into the training and airstrikes campaign. The operation's cost already is approaching $1 billion — not even including a $5.6 billion contingency fund request from the White House — and whose U.S. troops totals will swell to about 3,000 in coming weeks.

On Wednesday, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., called the lack of action on a new war authorization "an abdication of congressional responsibility" and an embarrassment for lawmakers.

He has been among the leading voices pushing for a new vote, arguing that the existing authorization used by Obama to justify the start of the campaign is outdated. But there is little consensus on that point, or who should take the lead on writing a new force authorization.

Several lawmakers — including Kaine — have offered drafts. During a Nov. 13 House Armed Services Committee hearing on the topic, Republicans questioned why the White House hasn't offered its preferred language, coupling that with wider criticisms about the lack of a coherent strategy in the region.

"Until you get words on paper, it's kind of hard to make progress," said Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, the incoming committee chairman.

Other Senate Republicans and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, have publicly backed delaying any such moves until the new Congress is seated. Boehner has said that decision should not be made by "members who are on their way out the door."

Numerous Democrats have argued that the longer U.S. operations last in the region without a formal authorization, the more worrisome the precedent becomes. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said he worries the unchecked military action creates "a greater danger that the country gets sucked into one conflict after another."

He has pushed not only for clearer guidelines for the Islamic State group campaign but for sunset dates on past and future military authorizations, to prevent this type of uncertainty in the future.

Obama has insisted that some action is needed as soon as possible on the authorization issue, to show "clear and unified support" for the military mission. But in the absence of a congressional authorization vote, the administration and Pentagon officials have vowed that the fight will go on.

Earlier this month, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama is committed to "do what is necessary to take action against ISIL, to degrade their capabilities, to build up our efforts on the Iraqi side of the border, to get them out of these safe havens."

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

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