AUMF

FCNL applauds today’s vote in the House to repeal the outdated and overstretched 2002 AUMF used for the Iraq War.

The Biden Administration has announced its support for passage of H.R. 256, Rep. Barbara Lee’s (CA-13) bill to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq.

Yesterday, for the first time, a congressional committee advanced a bill to repeal one of the war authorizations that successive presidents have relied on to keep the United States at war for the last two decades.

For nearly two decades, the United States has relied on two congressional war authorizations to serve as the legal basis for military operations against suspected terrorist groups abroad. The Constitution provides the president with inherent powers to use military force without congressional authorization for defensive purposes. While this power is necessarily limited, it is significant and ensures that, even absent an AUMF, the president retains the ability to use military force in order to defend the national security of the United States.

A year ago today, the Trump administration assassinated Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and nine other people, committing an act tantamount to war without congressional approval.

Another year, another anniversary of the blank check for endless war.

On July 14, the House Appropriations Committee took three important steps towards ending our endless wars and preventing a new war with Iran.

Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) applauded yesterday’s votes in the House Appropriations Committee to adopt three amendments from Representative Barbara Lee (CA-13) to reassert Congress’s constitutional authority over war powers.

To end endless war, we need to know where the United States is engaged militarily and who we are fighting. One of the ways we work for peace is by pushing for increased government transparency and accountability for U.S. wars.

After nearly 20 years of war, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement on Feb. 29, 2020 aimed at bringing an end to the conflict in Afghanistan.