[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 49 (Thursday, March 16, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Authorization for Use of Military Force
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, almost 20 years to the day since the
start of the Iraq war, the U.S. Senate is beginning the bipartisan
process of repealing the Iraq AUMF of 2002.
Repealing this AUMF is a necessary step toward putting the final
remnants of the Iraq war squarely behind us.
Every year we leave this AUMF on the books is another year a future
administration can abuse it. Congress, the rightful dispenser of war
powers, cannot allow this to continue.
Repealing the AUMF and the AUMF of 1991, as well, will not hinder our
national defense, nor will it hurt the efforts of our troops deployed
overseas.
Americans are tired of endless wars in the Middle East. I hope this
year, on the 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, both
parties in both Chambers will speak with one voice.
And I want to certainly thank Senators Kaine and Young, as well as
our chair and ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, who
have done such a good job on this issue, bringing it to where we are
today.
I yield the floor.
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