WASHINGTON – Today, the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA-02), released the following statement of support for Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s (D-CA-13) historic effort to restore Congress’s role in voting on any new authorization for use of military force (AUMF). Congresswoman Lee’s amendment would repeal the 2001 AUMF 240 days after enactment of the DOD appropriations bill.
“Congresswoman Lee’s historic, bipartisan amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF must be retained. This common sense and responsible amendment would ensure that Congress would have sufficient time to debate and vote on any new policy authorizing military force. The country deserves a transparent and honest debate about the nature of our military engagements, especially given the high cost of war, both for our service members and their families, as well as the American taxpayer. Representative Lee’s multiyear leadership on this issue has finally borne bipartisan fruit and any efforts to strip this historic provision out of the final bill would be irresponsible and a dereliction of our duty to the American people.”
