Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., urged the House on Wednesday to vote against a rule governing debate on the defense policy bill because it shuts down nearly half of the amendments raised by lawmakers.
“Open process, my foot. Almost 200 amendments were not made in order, that’s just not right,” McGovern said on the House floor.
The House is set to begin considering 120 amendments on Wednesday afternoon. Added to the 60 it considered Tuesday night, that still makes up less than half of the 377 offered.
McGovern took issue with the Rules Committee not allowing several amendments to come to the floor that would create a new Islamic State-specific authorization for the use of military force.
“If you want the money to fight a war, then pass an AUMF,” he said. “All this amendment asks is for Congress to do its job.
“I guess this Congress is just too damn chicken to do its job when it comes to war,” he later added.
McGovern had introduced an amendment that the Rules Committee did not allow debate on that would have cut off funding for troops overseas on April 30, 2017, unless Congress approves a new war authorization before then.
He said not debating that provision is “moral cowardice” and urged his colleagues to “show some backbone.”
Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Ala., said he agreed that Congress should pass a new AUMF, but that it should be done through the process of hearings open to the American public, not in a floor debate on the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
If the rule passes, the House will debate an amendment from Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., that would repeal the 2001 authorization to fight terrorists, under which the administration is currently operating, but does not speak to the current conflict.
