June 29, 2017
Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee introduced the amendment during budget markups.
The GOP-controlled committee adopted the measure in a surprise move.
The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday took
a huge step toward dialing down American military involvement in the Middle East by including a repeal of the 2001 Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF) that had provided the legal justification for the United States’ 16-year “War on Terrorism.”
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-TX),
would repeal the AUMF “240 days after the date of the enactment” of the Defense Appropriations Bill.
A room full of "wow"s after @HouseAppropsGOP adopted this AUMF repeal amendment by @RepBarbaraLee pic.twitter.com/VxlvQn9d95
— Jennifer Scholtes (@JAscholtes) June 29, 2017
Since the September 11 attacks in 2001, Presidents
Bush, Obama, and Trump have used the authorization to conduct military operations against al-Qaeda and its successor organizations, like ISIS.
Without the AUMF, the executive branch would
no longer hold legal justification to continue military operations against terrorist organizations in the Middle East.
A House Appropriations aide confirmed to a Politico reporter that
the amendment would repeal the AUMF, if enacted:
Reintating my WOW. A correction from House Approps aide: "Yes
it would repeal the 9/11 AUMF and require a new vote in congress."
https://t.co/qZC5yXnl5t — Susan Ferrechio (@susanferrechio) June 29, 2017
If the Defense Appropriations Bill passes, Congress would have 240 days to approve a new AUMF before U.S. military operations against terrorist targets become illegal.
http://ntknetwork.com/house-appropriations-moves-forward-with-repeal-of-military-force-authorization/
