The White House was ready to share with lawmakers its plan to seek authority for the use of military force against the Islamic State group, setting up the first war vote in Congress in 13 years.
Presidential counsel Neil Eggleston arranged to meet with Senate Democrats as President Barack Obama is preparing to formally unveil his proposed authorization, a Democratic official revealed.
The White House has not finalized the text of its proposal or made a final decision on when to summit it, as presidential aides continue to schedule private consultations with lawmakers to negotiate details, according to a person familiar with the outreach.
The Democratic official said the release could come as early as Wednesday. Both officials spoke on a condition of anonymity without authorization to discuss negotiations on the record.
The White House and proponents of a new authorization for use of military force argue that passage is important to show unity in the fight against militants who have seized territory in Iraq and neighboring Syria, imposed a violent form of Sharia law and killed US and allied hostages.
On Wednesday, Obama confirmed the death of 26-year-old aid worker Kayla Jean Mueller after more than a year in Islamic State captivity.
"No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla's captivity and death," Obama said in a statement. "ISIL is a hateful and abhorrent terrorist group whose actions stand in stark contrast to the spirit of people like Kayla."
To get congressional approval for new authorization, Obama must find a balance between lawmakers who want wide authority to fight the Islamic State group and others, including members of his own party, who worry that it will lead to another American entanglement in a protracted war.
No. 2 House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer said some lawmakers want to set geographic limits or restrict the types of forces that can be used. "Members don't want open-ended" authority for the president to use force, he said. "They want some time limit so we can reconsider at some point in time, whether its 24 months, 36 months, 48 months."
Hoyer said he believes the full House can consider an authorization in March. "I think we ought to do that as quickly as we can, knowing full well that this is a serious matter," he said.
So far, no formal language has been submitted, although the White House has completed a draft, according to a senior congressional official who spoke only on grounds of anonymity because this person wasn't authorized to discuss by name a strategy being discussed privately.
Obama committed to congressional leaders in a bipartisan meeting last month that he would work with them to come up with language that can win bipartisan support.
