[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 116 (Thursday, July 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023

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                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2022

  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my 
amendment, Lee number three eight three, to repeal the 2002 
Authorization for Use of Force against Iraq.
  I want to thank my cosponsors, including Chairman Meeks of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee, and Chairmen Smith and McGovern for their 
support to permit me to offer this amendment.
  This amendment is simple: it would terminate the outdated but still 
dangerous 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force.
  I say ``outdated'' because the 2002 AUMF no longer serves any 
operational purpose. U.S. military deployments and operations carried 
out under the 2002 AUMF--dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom--officially 
concluded in 2011.
  I say ``dangerous'' because the 2002 contained no sunset provision. 
Leaving this outdated and unnecessary authorization on the books allows 
Presidents to utilize it for military action Congress never intended to 
authorize.
  This House has already voted three times to repeal this AUMF--most 
recently in June of last year, when the House adopted this same 
language by a vote of 268 to 161.
  And last year, the President formally endorsed repeal of the 2002 
AUMF, issuing a Statement of Administration Policy in favor of repeal, 
stating that the 2002 AUMF serves no purpose.
  We cannot afford to leave outdated AUMFs on the books indefinitely. 
It is past time for Congress to finally do our Constitutional duty and 
vote on matters of war and peace.
  Madam Speaker, nothing telegraphs America's indecision more than our 
failure to end wars that are long over. I urge all Members to support 
my amendment, repeal the 2002 AUMF, and assert our Article One 
responsibility to define when and how our country goes to war.

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