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 The agreement came during a White House meeting with bipartisan
congressional leaders during which Obama sought to develop a better
working relationship with Congress for the year after the partisan
bickering that has marked much of his presidency.
The Obama administration has argued that its five-month-long
campaign of air strikes in Iraq and Syria against Islamic State
militants is legal, based on authorization passed in the early 2000s
under President George W. Bush for the Iraq War and fighting al
Qaeda and associated groups.
But several members of Congress have said it would be preferable to
debate and pass a new authorization for combating Islamic State
fighters, who have killed thousands of people while seizing swaths
of territory in Iraq and Syria. The White House had set the issue
aside until now.
"The president committed to working with members of both parties on
text for an AUMF (authorization of military force) that Congress can
pass to show the world America stands united against ISIL," the
White House said, using an acronym for Islamic State.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell welcomed the step, telling
reporters later that a good starting place for Obama is "for him to
tell us what he wants, and to provide the initial document." He said
he expected it in the near future.
Obama, who has been criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for
not developing closer relationships with lawmakers, brought in 16
congressional leaders to the White House to take stock of what is
possible this year now that both houses of Congress are led by
Republicans.
Obama enters the new year in a stronger political position due to
improved economic growth.
Despite a Republican rout in November mid-term elections, Obama has
seen a slight rebound in his job approval numbers, and he and his
aides say he has six to nine months to achieve major priorities
before the country turns its attention to the campaign to replace
him in 2016.
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In his opening remarks to the congressional leaders, Obama mentioned
cybersecurity, trade and tax reform as three areas where agreement
might be found.
"We're in a position to make sure that 2015 is an even stronger
year. And relative to our competitors, we are holding much better
cards. The key now is for us to work as a team to make sure whether
we build on this progress," Obama said.
Boehner, however, raised the prospect of constructing the
long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline. Obama has pledged to veto
legislation that would require him to approve construction of the
Canada-to-Texas pipeline.
Boehner also made clear the House would push ahead with a funding
bill for the Homeland Security Department that would cut funds for
use in carrying out Obama's executive action late last year to relax
U.S. policy toward illegal immigrants.
(additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Susan Heavey,
James Dalgleish and Ken Wills)
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