Bill Lee: “First, let me thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time and for her tremendous leadership as our ranking member on the…”

“First, let me thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time and for her tremendous leadership as our ranking member on the Rules Committee. It is a true testament to her love for our country and for our troops. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition, first, to this terrible rule, but, of course, also in strong support of this amendment to sunset funding for the 2001 AUMF, after 240 days after enactment of this act. This important amendment would provide Congress plenty of time to do our job and finally have a debate and vote on matters of war and peace. Mr. Speaker, last week, Republicans unilaterally decided to kill my bipartisan amendment to sunset the 2001 AUMF, which would allow 8 months to debate and vote on a new one before it would be enacted. This amendment was adopted on a bipartisan basis in the full Appropriations Committee. It was stripped out of the bill in the dead of the night, with no debate or vote from the Rules Committee. This undemocratic and underhanded behavior really makes me wonder: What is Speaker Ryan so afraid of? I came to the Rules Committee this week and asked them to rectify a wrong and allow a debate and a vote on this important measure, and they refused. I even offered a second amendment, which we have before us today, which would sunset the funding for the 2001 AUMF, 240 days after enactment--that is 8 months--which would allow ample time to debate and vote on any replacement.…”