Repeal of Iraq War Authorizations Moves One Step Closer to Senate Vote

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.), filed Cloture on March 14, on a bill which would repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Forces (AUMFs).

This announcement comes as we approach the 20th year anniversary of the March 19,2003 invasion of Iraq.

After Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction were reported, the 2002 AUMF gave permission for the U.S. military and civilians to enter Iraq. In 2003, the United States captured Hussein and executed him in Iraq. The 1991 AUMF enabled U.S. forces into the Gulf War. Hussein’s forces were then driven out of Kuwait.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted in favor of the bill. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Todd Young, R-Ind.), to the full Senate on March 8.

The chairman of the committee, Sen. Bob Menendez (D.N.Y.), applauded.

“AUMFs are the most solemn responsibility of this Committee, and our duty is not just to pass them, but to exercise vigilance as to how they are used and assess when it is time to declare them obsolete,” He made the statement in a statement.

“Today’s vote asserts the congressional prerogative to determine how administrations—current and future ones—justify the use of military force,” He continued. “These two AUMFs are outdated, do not address current threats to U.S. interests, and should not be used to justify large-scale use of military force. Their repeal is in the U.S. national interest, and in the interest of our strategic partnership with Iraq and the region.”

Schumer applauded the progress of the bill.

“This Senate Foreign Relations Committee has reached an agreement to move forward on the repeal of the Iraq AUMF. We need to put the Iraq war behind us once and for all. And doing that means we should repeal the legal authority that initiated the war to begin with,” Schumer posted on Twitter. Schumer voted against the 1991 AUMF, and for the 2002 AUMF.

Schumer pointed out that President Joe Biden had already filed his cloture “voiced support for the measure.” He complained that the longer the AUMFs remain on the books, then the more potential for the president to abuse them. Schumer pointed out that repeals would allow Congress to restore the power of declaring war.

Voting to advance the bill may occur as early as Thursday. Sixty votes will be required.

Although the bipartisan bill is expected to pass the Democrat controlled Senate, its fate in Congress will be decided by the GOP-controlled House. Last week, the House rejected a bill introduced by Rep. Matt Gaetz from Florida that would have required President Obama to withdraw U.S. forces in Syria.