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NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023
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speech of
HON. BARBARA LEE
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment, Lee number three eight three, to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Force against Iraq.
I want to thank my cosponsors, including Chairman Meeks of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Chairmen Smith and McGovern for their support to permit me to offer this amendment.
This amendment is simple: it would terminate the outdated but still dangerous 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force.
I say ``outdated'' because the 2002 AUMF no longer serves any operational purpose. U.S. military deployments and operations carried out under the 2002 AUMF--dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom--officially concluded in 2011.
I say ``dangerous'' because the 2002 contained no sunset provision. Leaving this outdated and unnecessary authorization on the books allows Presidents to utilize it for military action Congress never intended to authorize.
This House has already voted three times to repeal this AUMF--most recently in June of last year, when the House adopted this same language by a vote of 268 to 161.
And last year, the President formally endorsed repeal of the 2002 AUMF, issuing a Statement of Administration Policy in favor of repeal, stating that the 2002 AUMF serves no purpose.
We cannot afford to leave outdated AUMFs on the books indefinitely. It is past time for Congress to finally do our Constitutional duty and vote on matters of war and peace.
Madam Speaker, nothing telegraphs America's indecision more than our failure to end wars that are long over. I urge all Members to support my amendment, repeal the 2002 AUMF, and assert our Article One responsibility to define when and how our country goes to war.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 116(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 116(2)
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