The House Voted Thursday to revoke the 2002 law that authorized war in Iraq, reviving a debate over Congress’ power to declare war.
The vote passed 268 to 161 with bipartisan support, reflecting the unpopularity of endless foreign wars with American voters, per the Wall Street Journal.
The Biden administration said Monday that it supports the termination of the 2002 authorization for the use of military force.
The U.S. has no continuing military activities that rely solely on the 2002 authorization, and the repeal would likely have “minimal impact on current military operations,” the statement said.
“The constitution requires that we cannot appropriate funds for armies for more than two years, and yet for almost two decades we have failed to revisit these AUMFs,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), the bill’s sponsor, said. “To this day, our endless war continues, costing trillions of dollars and thousands of lives in a war that goes way beyond any scope that Congress conceived or intended.”
Some republicans, however, opposed repealing the authorization without something to take its place.
“What message would this send to the terrorists, who are on the ropes, who haven’t attacked in the United States, not because they don’t want to but because we haven’t let them, because we have fought them on their territory before they have the ability to organize and attack us here,” said Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran.
“I understand where this is coming from,” Kinzinger said. “I deeply would love an AUMF that replaces this the right way, but this is the wrong process.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also said Thursday that the time wasn’t right to repeal the AUMF and called for more discussions.
“Reality is more complicated, more dangerous, and less politically convenient than its supporters believe,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor. “The fact of the matter is the legal and practical application of the 2002 AUMF extends far beyond the defeat of Saddam Hussein’s regime. And tossing it aside without answering real questions about our ongoing efforts in the region is reckless.”
Similar legislation in the Senate is expected to get a vote on June 22.
