The House on Wednesday approved President Obama 's request to arm and train Syrian rebels in the fight against ISIS . With significant opposition to the proposal in both parties , the vote was 273 -156 . More than one third of the House -- 71 Republicans and 85 Democrats -- voted no . Many Republicans argue the strategy is n't tough enough to defeat ISIS ; many Democrats worry the plan could drag the United States into another long military engagement . The proposal would authorize the Pentagon to provide assistance to `` appropriately vetted '' members of the Syrian opposition and require the administration to give Congress a detailed plan for helping the rebels before that assistance could begin . The Senate will vote Thursday on the proposal . Dempsey : U.S. ground troops to fight ISIS , if necessary . House Republican leaders scheduled an extended debate that stretched over two days . Most measures are only discussed for one hour with only a handful of people participating . But since so many House members were elected after Congress weighed in on Iraq , close to 100 Democrats and Republicans came to the House floor to explain what amounted to their first vote on an international conflict . It was a debate that highlighted unusual alliances . Conservative Republicans who want more aggressive military action joined progressive anti-war Democrats worried about another U.S. intervention and opposed the measure . But backing the plan were hawkish GOP members and Democrats who argued the proposal to send Syrian groups into the fight against ISIS would send a message to international partners to join the effort . The vote came as an amendment to a spending bill to keep the government funded through mid-December . It was a vote to grant the new authority to President Barack Obama , but did n't include any new money . The administration has adequate resources for its current airstrike campaign and the program to assist the rebels in an existing fund covering overseas operations . The measure would let the Pentagon transfer money from that account as needed . Notably , some war veterans on both sides of the aisle argued forcefully against giving the new authority to the President . Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii , who fought in Iraq , said the goals of the President 's plans to arm Syrians were `` unrealistic '' and pointing to Iraq and Libya , said sharply , `` clearly our leaders have not learned their lessons . '' California GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter , who fought as a Marine in both Iraq and Afghanistan , said that while he did support arming Syrian rebels last year , the sectarian violence has worsened and now he has `` no confidence we are arming the right people . '' But another veteran , Rep. Adam Kinzinger , R-Illinois , who flew missions over Iraq , warned that not giving this authority would send a worrisome signal to U.S. allies in the region that are battling the terror group . Others argued this was a time to unite behind the President to show the international community that the United States was moving against terrorism . The third-ranking House Republican , Rep. Steve Scalise , warned `` the threat of ISIS is real and growing and it 's not just limited to the Middle East . '' The Louisiana congressman said while Congress was giving this authority to the administration , `` there 's got to be a give and take , '' and said the provisions added by the GOP would give the legislative body oversight over the new operation with the Syrian moderates . Congress is expected to debate a broader war authorization after the midterm elections .
House approves funding to arm and train anti-ISIS forces in Syria . The White House says the money will help "moderate" Syrian rebels fight ISIS. War veterans on both sides of the aisle argued against the proposal . Senate votes Thursday .