Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued the following statement regarding the amendment requesting military leaders and other experts on this situation in Afghanistan to testify before Congress:

"In an unfortunate party line vote the Senate voted to abrogate its obligations to the men and women serving in the military," said Senator John McCain. "The amendment I proposed would have called the military leaders with the foremost expertise on the situation in Afghanistan to testify before Congress within 45 days.

"The President is the Commander in Chief and I respect that role. But the Members of the U.S. Senate have an obligation to hear firsthand, and as soon as possible, what is occurring on the ground in this evolving situation," McCain continued. "Unfortunately now Congress must rely on news outlets for access to our military leaders."