[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10007-S10008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6600. Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Young) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 6552 proposed by Mr. Leahy to
the bill H.R. 2617, to amend section 1115 of title 31, United States
Code, to amend the description of how performance goals are achieved,
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:
On page 410, after line 25, add the following:
SEC. 8145. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE
AGAINST IRAQ.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against
Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1; 105 Stat. 3; 50 U.S.C.
1541 note), enacted on January 14, 1991 (in this preamble
``the 1991 AUMF''), and the Authorization for Use of Military
Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243;
116 Stat. 1498; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note), enacted on October 16,
2002 (in this preamble ``the 2002 AUMF''), currently remain
valid law.
(2) Recent presidential administrations have maintained
that the 2002 AUMF only serves to ``reinforce'' any legal
authority to combat ISIS provided by the Authorization for
Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 115 Stat. 224; 50
U.S.C. 1541), enacted September 18, 2001, and is not
independently required to authorize any such activities.
(3) Repealing the 1991 AUMF and the 2002 AUMF would
therefore not affect ongoing United States military
operations.
(4) Since 2014, United States military forces have operated
in Iraq at the request of the Government of Iraq for the sole
purpose of supporting its efforts to combat ISIS, consistent
with the Strategic Framework Agreement that Iraq and the
United States signed on November 17, 2008.
(5) During a press briefing on December 24, 2020, Commander
of the United States Central Command, General Frank McKenzie,
reiterated that United States forces are in Iraq ``at their
invitation''.
(6) Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Prime Minister
Mustafa Al-Kadhimi of Iraq discussed ``the Iraqi government's
responsibility and commitment to protect U.S. and Coalition
personnel in Iraq at the government's invitation to fight
ISIS'' in a February 16, 2021, phone call.
(7) Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III stated on
February 19, 2021, that he ``welcomed that expanded NATO
mission in Iraq that responds to the desires and aspirations
of the Iraqi government''.
(8) In a February 23, 2021, call with Prime Minister
Mustafa Al-Kadhimi of Iraq, President Joseph R. Biden
affirmed United States
[[Page S10008]]
support for Iraq's ``sovereignty and independence''.
(9) Neither the 1991 AUMF nor the 2002 AUMF are being used
as the sole legal basis for any detention of enemy combatants
currently held by the United States.
(10) Authorizations for the use of military force that are
no longer necessary should have a clear political and legal
ending.
(b) Repeal of Authorization for Use of Military Force
Against Iraq Resolution.--The Authorization for Use of
Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1; 105
Stat. 3; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed.
(c) Repeal of Authorization for Use of Military Force
Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.--The Authorization for Use
of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law
107-243; 116 Stat. 1498; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby
repealed.
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