WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) issued a statement today following the U.S. Senate’s vote on Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-IA) Amendment No. 1549 to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendment would allow the U.S. to provide direct assistance to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a critical partner in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). Specifically, the amendment would provide temporary, emergency authority for the President to provide weapons and training directly to Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

The amendment, No. 1549, failed passage with a vote of 54-45.

“The Iraqi Kurdish forces are skilled fighters that are ready and willing to defeat ISIS, but often do not have the weapons to do so. As one of our closest allies in the Middle East, I fully support sending arms to the Kurdish fighters. This amendment would help ensure the Kurds have the support they need in order to defeat radical Islam,” Sen. Paul said.