Senator 'concerned' by lack of war authorization draft

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said Tuesday he is "concerned" that President Obama has not sent over a draft for a congressional authorization of the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

"I remain concerned that the White House hasn't sent a draft, although I did see, you know, the president's been saying he's going to do that," Kaine told The Hill.

The senator said he hoped the president would address the issue in the State of the Union address Tuesday evening. 

"I'm very much expecting and hoping that he will address that tonight," Kaine said. 

Kaine has pushed since last fall for Congress to vote on an authorization for use of military force that would explicitly approve U.S. military actions against ISIS, as well as lay out parameters for those actions. 

He has proposed an authorization  bill last year that would expire in one year and ban the use of U.S. ground troops in combat against ISIS. 

Obama said Tuesday during a meeting with congressional leaders that he would begin preparing draft language for the force authorization.

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