Hill Country Chronicle

Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Gregory W. Meeks have reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at repealing the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) related to Iraq. This legislative move seeks to address what both lawmakers see as Congress's long-standing neglect of its constitutional responsibilities regarding decisions of war and peace.

"For decades, Congress has completely abdicated its constitutional duty to deliberate on matters of war and peace," said Congressman Roy. He highlighted that the AUMFs from 1991 and 2002 remain in effect despite being outdated, with many original legislators no longer in office or alive. "Times have changed, and so have the mission and objectives of America's foreign policy," he added, emphasizing the need for Congress to take action to prevent future misuse of these authorizations.

Ranking Member Meeks echoed similar sentiments about Congress's historical oversight concerning war powers. "Congress has long abdicated its constitutional authority over war and peace through open-ended AUMFs," he stated. Meeks noted that previous attempts to repeal these authorizations nearly succeeded in recent congressional sessions, attributing progress to efforts by Senator Tim Kaine and former Representative Barbara Lee.

The proposed legislation aims to eliminate what are considered obsolete authorities, thereby reclaiming Congressional power over military engagements as outlined in Article I of the Constitution.