In the halls of Congress, a formidable bipartisan coalition is intensifying their campaign, poised to force a pivotal vote on the repeal of war authorizations this very month. Their mission: to wrest control over the power to declare war away from the executive branch and return it firmly into the hands of Congress.
“This legal authority has been wielded repeatedly, stretching far beyond the original intent of Congress,” declared Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a Senate hopeful in California and the solitary voice who boldly opposed the authorization for the use of military force in the turbulent aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
The Senate took a resolute step in March, passing legislation that aimed to rescind Congress’ 1991 and 2002 authorizations for military action in Iraq. However, in the grand arena of the House, the curtains have yet to rise on these repeals.
A formidable group of House legislators, a bipartisan sextet led by the indomitable Rep. Barbara Lee and the steadfast Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), has issued an impassioned plea to Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Their fervent request? To champion the cause of repealing the Iraq authorizations this very month. Alongside this, they urge action on a distinct proposal seeking to abolish a sweeping 1957 authorization for military operations in the Middle East.
In their resounding letter to Speaker McCarthy, the coalition underscored their unwavering support for the ongoing House efforts to reform the “outdated and overly broad” 2001 authorization for the use of military force, originally enacted in the turbulent aftermath of the September 11 attacks. However, they voiced a compelling argument—that such efforts should not serve as a pretext to delay the repeal of other antiquated authorizations for the use of military force.
The stage is set, and the battle for congressional supremacy over matters of war is poised for a climactic showdown this month. In the corridors of power, the fate of these war authorizations hangs in the balance, a testament to the enduring struggle for constitutional authority in the realm of military action.
