Sheila Jackson Lee: “As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, the Out of Iraq Caucus, and a cosponsor, I rise in strong support…”

“As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, the Out of Iraq Caucus, and a cosponsor, I rise in strong support of H.R. 256, which repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq passed by Congress nearly twenty years ago on October 16, 2002 as Pub. L. 107-243. I extend my thanks and deep appreciation to our colleague, the gentlewoman from California, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, for her tireless and unwavering devotion to repealing this misguided AUMF and acknowledging the grievous mistake history has shown it to be and as many of predicted at the time it would be. Congress never intended for the 2002 AUMF to have such broad and extended reach. Over the last 18 years, we have seen 3 Presidents use this legislation as a blank check to engage in serious military action. The 2002 AUMF is an outdated piece of legislation and repealing it will not affect any current military operations. Moreover, the 2002 AUMF is unnecessary because everything the 2002 AUMF covers is already fully covered under the 2001 9/11 AUMF, except for attacks against Iran. Congress passed the 2002 AUMF to address the perceived threat posed by the regime of Saddam Hussein and the AUMF permitted the President to use the armed forces as ``necessary and appropriate'' to ``defend U.S. national security against the continuing threat posed by Iraq'' and to ``enforce all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.'' U.S.…”