A Senate committee advanced a measure to revoke the 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iraq, setting up a floor vote later this year.
The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee voted mostly along party lines, 14-8, to advance a measure that would end the president’s war powers authority in Iraq that Congress granted nearly two decades ago.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer repeated his pledge on Wednesday to take up the measure later this year but did not provide a specific timeline.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS REPEAL OF IRAQ WAR AUTHORIZATION, TOP STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS
“It’s far outlived its usefulness,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Members should be on notice that we are going to vote on this.”
The committee vote follows similar action in the House and a growing desire to rein in war powers lawmakers say are no longer needed or outdated.
The House voted on June 17 to repeal the Iraq AUMF. The measure passed 268 to 161 and had the backing of 49 of the 209 voting Republicans.
President Joe Biden supports ending the 2002 authorization and has pledged to work with Congress on updating a 2001 AUMF in Afghanistan.
U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan was largely completed in July. The Taliban is now fighting to regain ground, causing a resurgence of violence in the country.
Senate Republicans warned Wednesday ending the AUMF would empower ISIS and Iranian-backed militia groups,
The U.S. and other nations are poised to begin a seventh round of talks with Iran in Vienna, Austria, on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal ended by former President Donald Trump.
“The fact that the Biden administration would bring this up at a time when Iran is escalating its efforts against us against American people, against our allies, against our troops in Iraq,” Sen Bill. Hagerty, a Tennessee Republican, said. “The timing of this doesn’t make sense except in the context of negotiations that are taking place in Vienna right now.”
But committee Chairman Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said the Biden administration has the constitutional authority to act in the region if needed and does not need the 2002 AUMF.
In July, Biden launched airstrikes against weapons storage facilities in Iraq and Syria used by militia groups backed by Iraq.
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Schumer said there is little public appetite for engaging in extensive military action abroad following decades of war with Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Americans, frankly, are sick of endless wars in the Middle East,” Schumer said. “Congress simply has to exert more authority over matters of war and peace, as we all know the constitution prescribes.”
