Andy Barr: “the War Powers Act has become a resolution without meaning, honored in its breach rather than in its compliance. It has…”

“the War Powers Act has become a resolution without meaning, honored in its breach rather than in its compliance. It has cost us credibility at home and abroad. It is time to reform it. It is time to get back to basics, to a basic understanding of the separation and the balance of powers in our carefully crafted system of government. Coequal does not mean the same. While the executive branch has certain powers, Congress likewise has certain powers. From time to time, in certain areas, these may converge, but they do not coincide. There are differences and shall always and should always remain differences. I have been honored over the years to work very closely on national security matters. As a matter of fact, at the time the war powers resolution was being debated and passed and enacted I was working in national security matters for the CIA. I know, as do other Members of this great learned body, how swiftly the affairs and matters of national security are, arguably, subject to the war powers resolution come up, how quickly they can change, how difficult it is to anticipate, except, of course, by our adversaries, how the War Powers Resolution would play itself out and constrict the ability of our commander-in-chief to operate. We cannot tie the hands of our commander-in-chief, because when we do that, when we tie his hands, we cost the lives of our soldiers, and it is improper and unconscionable to put their lives at risk.”