After President Barack Obama made his case to the American people that the United States needs to take strong military actions against the Islamic State, he faced a divided Congress.

Maine’s Congressional delegations released statements that agreed with the president that the Islamic State is a dangerous terrorist organization. They also want a chance to explore and debate options.

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King basically supported Obama’s plan but wants the he chance to debate it in Congress:

“Tonight, the President laid out the outline of a comprehensive plan to eliminate ISIS, a dangerous terrorist organization that threatens our partners in the region and Europe, the people of Iraq and Syria, and Americans – both here at home and abroad. It is clear to me – based on the intelligence and the evidence on the ground – that the danger of standing idly by and doing nothing far exceeds the risk we assume in expanding the fight against them.

“As a member of an institution that represents the collective voice of the American people, I believe that a robust debate in Congress would help better define our national interests, the inherent risks involved in such operations, and our desired outcome. We have a Constitutional responsibility to address this issue – and doing so will strengthen the country’s response to this threat.

“The extent and engagement of foreign partners, particularly those in the region, is a crucial piece of the President’s strategy which must be clarified over the next several days. The other important element is the nature of the new government in Iraq which must be more open and inclusive if there is to be any chance of degrading support for ISIS in the predominantly Sunni areas of the country.

“On balance, I think the president did what he had to do – laying out the case for action and defining the elements of a comprehensive strategy – which does not include American ground combat forces – to meet this serious threat.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins agrees that the ISIS is a threat that needs to be dealt with and supports elements of Obama’s plan. But she wants to hear more.

“ISIS has grown in size, strength, and sophistication and has demonstrated the ability to move quickly to seize territory in both Iraq and Syria, killing and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Its brutal murders of two American journalists and its training of radicalized Islamists from our country and Western Europe demonstrate beyond any doubt that it will continue to seek to harm our citizens and disrupt our way of life. The President is correct that ISIS poses a growing threat to the United States, and I support many elements of his long overdue strategy to address this threat.

“The President’s strategy is based in part upon cooperation with our allies in the region and includes non-military components to complement the military effort. Cutting off ISIS’s financial support and countering the extremists’ perversion of Islam are necessary elements for an effective strategy to achieve the goal of degrading and ultimately destroying ISIS.

“Ultimately, the effectiveness of the President’s plan will pivot upon his resolve to follow through on the words he delivered tonight. It will also depend upon the contributions of our regional allies like Saudi Arabia, which must do more to combat the terrorist threat posed not only by ISIS, but also by a resurgent al Qaeda that has metastasized and has a presence in more than 20 countries or territories.

“Many questions remain to be answered about the specifics of the President’s plan. The President’s plan will not be effective, for example, if if follows the exact models for Yemen and Somalia, two countries in turmoil that remain terrorist safe havens to this day.

“I participated in the Intelligence Committee’s briefing yesterday and look forward to the briefing tomorrow from Administration officials where I expect to hear in greater detail about what the President is seeking from Congress, the risks and costs associated with the President’s plan, and possible alternatives to counter this very real and growing terrorist threat.”

Before Obama addressed the nation, Democrat U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud released a statement that expressed concern about the danger that ISIS represents and the need to get Congressional approval for any military action:

“There is no doubt that ISIS presents a threat – not just to America, but to the world. The next step must be for the President to articulate a clear and comprehensive strategy for confronting ISIS and protecting American interests and lives. He must tell us who among our NATO and Mideast allies is prepared to stand with us, and who is not.

“I have always said the President must consult with Congress before undertaking military operations abroad – whether it was Libya in 2011, or Syria last year. That is why I expect President Obama to seek Congressional authority if he intends to expand military operations against ISIS. This serious threat requires leadership from our President and substantial input from Congress.

“We have seen the impacts of open-ended military conflicts both on our service members and on our nation’s psyche. And as Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I understand acutely the need to think about what committing troops to a military conflict means not just in the present – but in the future, when those brave men and women return home from service.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree has not made a statement available yet but told Maine Public Broadcasting that she is concerned about taking any military action against ISIS.