It was on Wednesday that the U.S. House acted on President Obama’s request to fund training and arming of moderate Syrian rebels in the president’s strategy to bring the fight to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria despite concerns that the president’s  plan wasn’t broad enough.

The funding was included as an amendment in the $1 Trillion government funding bill that passed on a vote of 319-108. The provision was passed on a bipartisan  vote of 273 to 156. In a strange mix, those that opposed the bill were 85 anti-war Democrats who broke with the president,  and 71 Republicans that felt that the President’s plan was not strong enough.

Alaska’s lone Representative, Don Young voted for the controversial amendment. In a statement after his Wednesday vote, Rep. Young said, “Today, I voted for an amendment in the hopes of reducing or eliminating the need for another war where a large number of U.S. forces would need to be sent into Iraq and Syria to prevent a terrorist attack on American soil.”

Congressman Young continued, “Congress was given no easy option today; however, short of putting U.S. servicemen and women back on the ground, which I oppose, this was the only option we had.”

“Ultimately, I supported this amendment because I believe we cannot turn a blind eye to the atrocities against humanity currently going on in Iraq and Syria,” said Young. “We cannot put our head in the sand and ignore the serious threat that ISIL poses to Americans everywhere.  We cannot risk inaction and just hope that this situation works itself out.”

The bill and its amendment went to the Senate, where it was quickly acted on by the body there, passing on a vote of 78-22.

Democrats who are perceived as vulnerable in this election cycle, sided with the president and voted for the bill and its amendment, while Alaska’s Senator, Mark Begich bucked the tide and voted against the passage of the bill.

In a statement after the vote, Senator Begich said, “I support funding our government and am opposed to any political ploys that try to shut down the government, but I cannot, in good conscience, support funding weapons for unknown Syrian rebels.  The Administration has failed to convince me how they will identify the rebel groups that are truly our allies or how they will keep these arms secure down the line.”

“ISIS is a serious threat and I support aggressive airstrikes.  In this volatile part of the world, we know that alliances are often unpredictable. We owe it to our service men and women to make sure we aren’t providing arms that could be used against U.S. soldiers in the future.  The countries of that region need to step up,” Begich continued.

Meanwhile Alaska’s Senior Senator, Lisa Murkowski, who voted for the bill, told her constituents, “As I said last year when I worked with my Senate colleagues to re-open the federal government, a government shutdown benefits no one and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of Alaskans.  While I am extremely frustrated by funding the government through stop-gap continuing resolutions, I could not threaten our state’s economy by voting otherwise as a protest vote.”

Of the amendment tied to the bill, Murkowski said, “But as to another threat – that posed by ISIS on our nation – there are no good options.  I was deeply skeptical of the President’s ideas when he presented them last week, and watching his own military leaders disagree with him in the days since has only heightened my concerns.  While I continue to have my doubts, a limited authority to equip and train the moderate factions in Syria against these Islamic extremists is among the least bad options, and I am encouraged that today’s bill contains some tangible short-term reporting requirements. This bill does not create an indefinite period of activity, only a narrow time frame for the President’s strategy and coalition to make progress.”

President Obama thanked Congress for the authority to train and arm Syrian rebels, calling the cooperation shown as the “hallmark of our foreign policy.” Obama also said, “We are strongest as a nation when the president and Congress work together.”

1,700 military advisors have already been assigned to Iraq and over 40 countries have joined the coalition against ISIS.