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President Barack Obama told congressional leaders he will propose terms for a measure authorizing U.S. military force against Islamic State, two top Republicans said following a White House meeting today.

Obama had said in November that he would seek authorization from Congress to fight the Sunni terrorists in Iraq and Syria. Since then, Republicans including House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have criticized him for not spelling out possible provisions for U.S. military involvement, such as whether to impose a time limit.

A good starting place is for him to tell us what he wants, McConnell of Kentucky told reporters after the meeting.

A debate over efforts to defeat Islamic State would reopen tension over the presidents authority to conduct military operations and uneasiness among some lawmakers -- mostly Obamas fellow Democrats -- about being drawn into open-ended conflicts and ground combat.

Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the Senates second-ranking Republican, told reporters after todays meeting at the White House that the presidents statement came as a little bit of a surprise.

I think thats helpful because weve been trying to get him to come up with the plan and show a little bit of what his strategy is going to be, the senator said.

Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said he believes Obama is going to make some proposal on an authorization for use of military force.

A White House statement said Obama committed to working with members of both parties on an authorization that Congress can pass to show the world America stands united against ISIL, an acronym for Islamic States former name.

Congressional leaders of both parties met with Obama today for about an hour, the first such meeting since Congress opened its new session this month with Republicans in control of both chambers for the first time in eight years.

Lawmakers who attended said the discussion was wide-ranging and covered topics including trade, cybersecurity, infrastructure and the Keystone XL pipeline.

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Obama to Offer Proposal for War on Islamic State, Senators Say