Kansas’ congressional members Thursday supported a resolution that would allow President Bush to use military force against Iraq, but said they hoped war would not be necessary.

All four Kansas House members voted for the measure authorizing force, which passed 296-133. The Senate was poised to approve the measure today. Kansas Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts already have expressed support.

Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat whose district includes eastern Lawrence, said the House resolution authorizing action against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein would strengthen Bush’s attempts to disarm Iraq through diplomatic negotiations.

Moore said information he received during recent classified briefings on Iraq, both from the Bush administration, a former United Nations weapon inspector and others, persuaded him that the resolution was necessary because Saddam posed a significant threat.

“I think the American people and most members of Congress want to find a diplomatic solution to this problem,” he said.

Rep. Jim Ryun, whose district includes western Lawrence, said Saddam’s ability to use chemical and biological weapons was an imminent threat to national security. Ryun added that Saddam could not be trusted to allow United Nations weapons inspectors back into Iraq with unrestricted access.

“Certainly military action against Iraq, if it becomes necessary, will involve risks; however, the risks posed by delaying action are even greater,” said Ryun, a Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee.

In voting for the resolution, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, a Republican from Wichita, also urged Bush to “exhaust all reasonable diplomatic options available in hopes of avoiding war.”

But, he said that if Saddam “continues to rebuff the international community and threaten the peace and security of the United States, we must take swift and decisive action. To do anything less would be immoral and irresponsible.”