6/17/21
Contact: Jordan Dunn
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today released the following statement after voting to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). The measure passed the House by a vote of 268 to 161.
“The 2002 AUMF is no longer relevant and its repeal would not impact ongoing operations in the Middle East. In fact, if you look at the legal justifications associated with military strikes in the Middle East, the primary justification is almost always either the 2001 AUMF or Article II authority. Where the 2002 AUMF is cited, it’s a secondary source of legal authority that is ultimately unnecessary.
“Today’s vote to repeal the 2002 AUMF was a matter of basic constitutional hygiene and a small but significant step forward in reasserting Congress’s war powers authorities. The second-step to reclaiming our Constitutional war powers is to repeal other outdated AUMFs – like those from 1957 and 1991 – and to reform the 2001 AUMF. There are a number of productive, bipartisan discussions happening on this topic, and I think including a sunset provision, requiring Congress to periodically renew the authorization, and requiring stronger reporting requirements could serve as a foundation for bipartisan reform.”
ICYMI: Earlier this year, Rep. Gallagher introduced bipartisan legislation that would repeal the outdated 1957 and 1991 AUMFs in addition to the 2002 AUMF.
The lawmakers also wrote an op-ed in USA Today outlining the case for why Congress must reclaim its war powers authorities and repeal outdated AUMFs such as the 2002 AUMF.
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