One week after hosting the manufacturers of drones at an expo in Washington, D.C., Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon issued the following statement on Friday’s confirmation of the death of al-Qaida leader Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a drone in Yemen:

“A dangerous terrorist is dead, and I offer my thanks to the Yemeni forces who killed him, with the assistance of the United States. Al-Awlaki inspired multiple attacks against Americans, and I am relieved that the threat he posed has been eliminated. However, this is not a time to let our guard down. Rather, we must redouble our efforts to keep al Qaeda on the run and break their ability to carry out future attacks.

“I well know how how dangerous Al-Awlaki was. Dispersed operatives like him, who depend on mobility to defend themselves and might be discovered anywhere, are one reason the Armed Services Committee affirmed the authorization of the use of military force against al Qaeda and its associates this year. We must continue to take the fight to the enemy and prevent terrorists from reaching our shores. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take today’s action as further proof of how vital it is to reaffirm the authorization of military force and act on the legislation quickly.”

McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, chairs the House Armed Services Committee.