Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Foreign Relations Committee Vote On Repeal Of The 2002 Authorization For The Use Of Military Force In Iraq And Reiterating Support For Repeal Of The 2002 AUMF

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding today’s Foreign Relations Committee Vote on repeal of the 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iraq, reiterating his support for the repeal effort and his intention to bring the repeal up for a vote in the Senate later this year in consultation with Chairman Menendez. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the repeal of the authorization for the use of military force in Iraq. This authorization was initially passed by Congress in 2002, 19 years ago. It has far out-lived its usefulness.

The Iraq war has been over for nearly a decade. An authorization passed in 2002 is no longer necessary in 2021. It has been nearly ten years since this particular authorization has been cited as a primary justification for a military operation. And there is a real danger to letting these legal authorities persist indefinitely.

Allowing an authorization for military force to just lie around forever is an invitation to a future administration to use it for any military adventurism in the region. Americans, frankly, are sick of endless wars in the Middle East. Congress simply has to exert more authority over matters of war and peace, as we all know the Constitution prescribes.

So this morning I reiterate my strong support for the repeal of the 2002 authorization of military force in Iraq. I urge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, under the able leadership of Chairman Menendez, to advance the measure to the floor.

And I want to thank Chairman Menendez, Senator Kaine, and every Republican co-sponsor of the bill for working to bring this issue to the fore.

As Majority Leader, and in consultation with Chairman Menendez, I intend to bring the repeal up for a vote on the Senate floor later this year. Members should be on notice, we're going to vote on this.

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