Roy, Lee, Cole, Kaine, Young, & Spanberger Introduce Bill to Repeal 1991 & 2002 AUMFs, Formally Ending Gulf & Iraq Wars

WASHINGTON — Congressman Chip Roy alongside Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-12), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), and Tom Cole (OK-04) and U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation on Thursday to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) which authorized the use of force in the Gulf and Iraq wars.

This bill would formally conclude the Gulf and Iraq wars, authorized 32 and 20 years ago, which cost the lives of over 7,000 Americans. Congress alone has the Constitutional power to declare war and repealing these outdated AUMFs will ensure these authorities are not abused by the executive branch in the future. Congress needs to do it’s job and reassert it’s constitutionally mandated war power authorities by repealing these AUMFs.

Congressman Chip Roy had this to say about the bill: 

“The framers gave Congress the grave duty to deliberate the questions of war and peace, but for far too long this body has abdicated this duty. We must do our job. Repealing the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs — which will not impact ongoing operations in the Middle East — is necessary to ensure these decades old and outdated authorities are not abused in the future. This would be a first step towards a clearer, more focused military strategy, a more responsible government, and a stronger, more united country,”

Here is what Rep. Roy’s co-leaders on the bill had to say about it: 

“Congress is responsible for both declaring wars and ending them because decisions as important as whether or not to send our troops into harm’s way warrant careful deliberation and consensus. The 1991 and 2002 AUMFs are no longer necessary, serve no operational purpose, and run the risk of potential misuse. Congress owes it to our servicemembers, veterans, and families to pass our bill repealing these outdated AUMFs and formally ending the Gulf and Iraq wars.”

• U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)

“In 1991, Congress authorized America’s involvement in the first Gulf War. Eleven years later, Congress again acted to authorize the invasion of Iraq. Today, Iraq is a strategic partner of the United States in advancing the security and stability of the Middle East. Sadly, according to these laws that are still on the books, Iraq is still technically an enemy of the United States. This inconsistency and inaccuracy should be corrected. Congress must do its job and take seriously the decision to not just commit America to war, but to affirmatively say that we are no longer at war. Our bipartisan legislation will repeal the outdated and unnecessary 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force and ensure Congress fulfills its constitutional responsibility,”

• U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN)

“Three presidents have come and gone since Congress last voted to authorize a US invasion of Iraq over twenty years ago; a fourth is now in office. Yet the legacy of these horrific forever wars lives on in the form of the now-obsolete 2002 and 1991 AUMFs. I am proud to join Senators Kaine and Young leading this effort to finally repeal these authorizations. Reps Roy, Spanberger, Cole and I will be leading the charge in the House to restore our constitutionally protected Congressional war powers in a bipartisan fashion. It's far past time to put decisions of military action back in the hands of the people, as the constitution intended,”

• U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (CA-12)

“Voting on decisions of war and peace is a fundamental and constitutional responsibility for Members of Congress. We must be accountable to the American people and cannot abdicate this responsibility to open-ended AUMFs that give too much power to a President and don’t require Congress to take consequential votes, I’m proud to be a part of this serious, bipartisan effort — and I’d like to thank my fellow Virginian Senator Kaine for leading the charge to do what is right for the people we serve and the men and women who keep us safe.”

• U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (VA-07)

In addition to Sens. Kaine and Young, the Senate bill is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rand Paul (R-KY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Steve Daines (R-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Susan Collins (R-ME). In addition to Lee, Roy, Spanberger, and Cole, the House bill is cosponsored by Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Gregory Meeks (D-NY-05), and Harriet Hageman (R-WY-At-Large).

Full text of the bill is available here.

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