Bill Lee: “We are going to try again with a variation of what we just discussed. This is another amendment to reclaim our…”

“We are going to try again with a variation of what we just discussed. This is another amendment to reclaim our constitutional authority over matters of war and peace, and I ask Members to support the Lee- Jones-Welch amendment. Our amendment is simple. It would require Congress to finally put forth a new ISIL-specific Authorization for Use of Military Force by April 30, 2017. That is the date when funding for the overly broad 2001 authorization would be restricted. Upon enactment into law--this would be in October--Congress would have ample time--until April 30, 2017--to come up with a new authorization. Mr. Chair, 5,389 days have passed since Congress wrote a blank check for endless war to any President, and Congress still hasn't acted. 678 days since we started, once again, to bomb Iraq in a war that Congress has never debated or specifically authorized, and still Congress has not acted. 632 days since we started bombing Syria, a nation not covered by the 2002 or the 2001 AUMF--it is, clearly, not intended by either of these two--and Congress still has not acted. 491 days since President Obama sent Speaker Boehner a draft authorization, and still-- and now we have a new Speaker--Congress has not acted. And 33 days since a United States Army captain filed a lawsuit that demands an authorization for the war that he and other servicemembers are fighting, and still Congress has not acted. Mr.…”