The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives says President Barack Obama may lack support in the House for a measure authorizing the U.S. military operation in Libya.

Republican John Boehner spoke Wednesday in reference to a resolution sponsored by two top U.S. senators, Republican John McCain and Democrat John Kerry, that would authorize U.S. military involvement in Libya but limit it to one year.

Boehner said Mr. Obama has come up short in explaining to Congress and the American people why U.S. forces are in Libya, why it is in the national interest, and why the U.S. should continue.

Late Tuesday, the speaker announced two House resolutions on the Libya conflict, one similar to the McCain-Kerry measure and one that orders the removal of U.S. forces except for those engaged in non-hostile operations.

House lawmakers may vote on both resolutions on Thursday.

The McCain-Kerry resolution, introduced Tuesday, would impose a one-year limit on U.S. military involvement in the NATO coalition in Libya, and prevent the use of American ground troops in the conflict. At the same time, both senators cautioned against abandoning the U.S. mission, saying Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is close to losing his grip on power.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized President Obama for not seeking formal congressional authorization to intervene in the Libya conflict.