Adriano Espaillat: “For far too long, Congress has allowed the executive branch to usurp its constitutional responsibility of the power to…”

“For far too long, Congress has allowed the executive branch to usurp its constitutional responsibility of the power to go to war. Now, we have seen how a President can misuse one of his most solemn responsibilities as Commander in Chief. The 2002 AUMF, which was built on a lie, on a lie of weapons of mass destruction, is long irrelevant and must be repealed. The American people do not want war. The American people do not want war. Yet, the President has escalated the prospects of war in the Middle East in a way that has not only severely endangered U.S. interests and diplomacy to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon but has also resulted in the injury of at least 50 American servicemembers. We must repeal the 2002 AUMF because the President has not been given the authority to go to war. And we must exercise the power of the purse and ensure that no funds are used for an unwanted, unauthorized war. Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).”