[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2001 AUMF

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to really challenge my colleagues 
to restore Congress' constitutional oversight on matters of war and 
peace.
  Next Wednesday, September 14, will mark the 15th year since Congress 
passed an open-ended blank check for endless war. This authorization 
surrendered our constitutional authority to the executive branch.
  We continue to mourn the loss and cherish the memories of those 
killed in these attacks and continue to support and help those who were 
injured and whose lives were changed forever.
  Now, just 3 days after the horrific terrorist attacks on 9/11, this 
House rushed to pass a 60-word authorization, with little debate, that 
has been used to wage endless war around the globe. In the 15 years 
since its passage, this authorization, designed to punish the 
perpetrators of the brutal and deadly attacks on September 11, has 
allowed endless war to rage out of control.
  A recent report from the Congressional Research Service shows that 
this authorization has been used more than 37 times in 14 countries to 
justify military action, and this report only looked at unclassified 
military actions. How many others have been authorized that the 
American people don't know about?
  The American people and Congress deserve to know what is being done 
in their name. Sadly, Congress has been missing in action.
  It is unacceptable that our brave servicemen and -women are facing 
snipers and mortar rounds, but Congress can't even muster the courage 
to debate the war that we are asking them to now continue to fight. It 
is just plain wrong.
  Mr. Speaker, we have a constitutional and moral duty to debate on 
this war and any war. So why have you not scheduled a debate on this 
vital issue that affects our national security?
  I have asked, the President has asked, members of your own caucus, 
Mr. Speaker, have asked, even members of our military forces have 
asked, and still you have not scheduled a debate or vote. What is the 
hold up?
  During the amendment debate surrounding this year's National Defense 
Authorization Act, we got a few moments to discuss this issue. We were 
allotted 10 minutes, the same amount of time allotted to debate what 
brand of sneakers should be available to our servicemembers. If these 
issues get 10 minutes of debate, one would think that our national 
security and the Constitution deserve more than a rushed amendment 
debate allotted.
  Now, my colleagues and I might disagree on what specifics of an 
authorization should look like; and that is why we need this debate, so 
Members understand all of the options, the costs, and the consequences 
and we can advance policies that protect the Constitution and ensure 
our national security. The American people deserve more than a Congress 
that is missing in action.
  In February of last year, President Obama sent a draft authorization 
to Congress. Mr. Speaker, it has sat on your desk ever since, with no 
action, no hearings, no formal debate, and not one vote.
  While Congress has been missing in action, more bombs have fallen, 
more American servicemembers have been put in harm's way, and, yes, we 
have poured more than $1.7 trillion into war-making.
  Right now, any President can unilaterally wage war under the outdated 
2001 authorization. The last four Presidents have bombed the Middle 
East. Will this Congress allow a fifth President the same unlimited 
power to wage unchecked war? We can't and we shouldn't. It is past time 
for this debate.
  Now, in 2001, when I opposed this authorization, I challenged my 
colleagues with the words of the Reverend Nathan Baxter, the dean of 
the National Cathedral. He said:

       Let us hope that we may not, through our actions, become 
     the evil that we deplore.

  Fifteen years later, we, this Congress, have attacked our 
Constitution, the balance of power, and the voice of the American 
people on matters of war and peace. We, yes, have surrendered the 
Constitution and the voice of the American people. We have ignored the 
advice of our Founders and have divested our Nation's war-making power 
from Congress, which, yes, is the voice of the American people.
  So it is past time to stop this lawlessness. It is past time to 
restore the Constitution. It is past time for us, as Members of 
Congress, to live up to our responsibility we were elected to fulfill. 
It is past time that we do our job and repeal the blank check for 
endless war and have a debate and a vote on a new authorization for 
this new war footing that this country has embarked upon.

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