GOP senator wants vote before Trump uses force in Syria

Sen. Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeThe Hill's 12:30 Report — Obama jumps into midterm fight with speech blasting Trump | Trump wants DOJ to probe anonymous writer | Day four of Kavanaugh hearing Live coverage: Trump court pick returns for final day of questioning Kavanaugh declines to answer question on whether he's talked about Mueller probe with people at Trump's attorney's firm MORE (R-Utah) is urging President TrumpDonald John TrumpEx-Playboy model accuses GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy of physical abuse: reports Cohen seeks to vacate hush-money deal with Stormy Daniels Stormy Daniels says she broke into 'sobs' when she heard about Cohen's plea MORE to get congressional authorization before he uses military force to respond to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria.

“The use of chemical weapons absolutely requires a response from the United States,” Lee said in a statement. "But if that response is going to include military force, the president of the United States should come to Congress and ask for authorization before military force is used."

The administration is weighing how to respond to the attack, which reportedly killed at least 70 people in a town controlled by opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad. 

On Monday, Defense Secretary James MattisJames Norman MattisOvernight Defense: Trump said to extend Syria strategy | Mattis pushes Taliban talks during Afghanistan visit | Trump says he 'most likely' won't shut down government Mattis makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan, pushes Taliban peace talks: report Trump on Woodward book: 'I don't talk the way I am quoted' MORE would not rule out an airstrike in response to the alleged chemical attack. Trump separately said he would decide on the U.S. response “over the next 24 to 48 hours."