By Jonathan Broder, CQ Staff

A bipartisan group of senators, responding to a request by President Obama, introduced a resolution Monday that would support his use of military force as part of the NATO campaign against Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi.

The resolution “supports the limited use of military forces by the United States in Libya.” It was drafted by Democrats John Kerry of Massachusetts, Carl Levin of Michigan and Dianne Feinstein of California; Republicans John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia; and independent Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut.

“Congress has a vital role to play in the current debate about the ends and means of U.S. policy in Libya at this critical moment, and I hope this resolution will provide an opportunity to expand that debate,” McCain, ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.

Kerry, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said he welcomed Senate debate and a vote on the measure (S Res 194), although it is unclear whether the chamber will take it up this week.

Deadline Passes

The measure was introduced three days after the 60-day deadline for Congress to authorize U.S. military operations, the time frame stipulated in the 1973 War Powers Act (PL 93-148). U.S. military action in Libya began March 21.

Under the War Powers Act, the president is supposed to end the use of military force within 60 days — or 90 days in some cases — after notifying Congress about the military engagement unless lawmakers authorize continued operations.

Obama, who was criticized on Capitol Hill for not seeking congressional authorization for the use of force in Libya, sent a letter to congressional leaders May 20 — the 60-day deadline — urging them to pass a measure that would endorse U.S. involvement in NATO’s air campaign there.

Like previous presidents, Obama has not acknowledged the constitutionality of the 1973 law, and the measure introduced in the Senate on Monday also did not mention the War Powers Act.

The measure did, however, call on the president to “consult regularly with Congress regarding United States efforts in Libya” and to provide Congress with a description of U.S. policy objectives in Libya, as well as a detailed plan to achieve them, both during and after Qaddafi’s rule.

Rand Paul, R-Ky., also introduced a resolution (S J Res 14) that would declare that the president has exceeded authority under the War Powers Act.

At the same time, one of the harshest Senate critics of the Libya operation on Monday renewed his broadsides against the administration’s handling of the military campaign. Indiana’s Richard G. Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Obama charging that administration officials had broken promises to keep Congress informed about the Libya operation and that, as a result, the public was being kept in the dark about the strategy, goals and costs of the campaign.

“I urge you to take the necessary steps to ensure that your administration fulfills its commitment, and its constitutional duties, to respect the role of Congress with regard to our policy in Libya, including timely consultation on, and seeking authorization for, any continuation of U.S. military operations,” Lugar wrote.