July, 07 2011, 02:37pm EDT
Amash-Kucinich Gaining Momentum, 15 Cosponsors for Bipartisan Amendment to End Libyan War
Vote Expected Today
WASHINGTON
A bipartisan agreement to support an amendment with the broadest coalition of support has been reached by 15 Members of Congress. The bipartisan amendment is cosponsored by Justin Amash (R-MI), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Ron Paul (R-TX), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Walter Jones (R-NC), John Conyers (D-MI), Dan Burton (R-IN), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted Poe (R-TX), Pete Stark (D-CA), Tim Johnson (R-IL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA) and Richard Nugent (R-FL).
The language of the new bipartisan agreement is as follows: "None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for the use of military force against Libya."
Congressman Kucinich, an early critic of the war in Libya, first forced the House to consider the war for an hour on March 31, 2011. Since that time, he has filed a bipartisan lawsuit against the Administration with 9 other Members of Congress challenging the President's authority to unilaterally bring our nation to war. He has led coalitions to offer his own bills and support those of others that would limit the war, including bills passed to prohibit the use of ground forces in Libya and expressing the House's disapproval of the war.
In order to advance this important issue, Congressman Kucinich supported resolutions by Speaker Boehner and Representative Rooney. In the past 24 hours, he has been in constant contact with dozens of Members on both sides of the aisle in order to build the broadest coalition of support.
"I believe that the bipartisan effort which as produced this new agreement will demonstrate that opposition to the illegal, unconstitutional war is not a partisan issue, but an American issue," said Kucinich.
See Congressman Kucinich describe the amendment on the House floor here. Full text of Congressman's remarks follow:
"In a short time, the House will have an opportunity to reclaim our Constitutional authority on matters of war and peace by voting to stop the use of funds for the war in Libya.
"An agreement has been reached through work that Mr. Amash and I have done to create a bipartisan amendment which states 'none of the funds made available by this act may be used for the use of military force against Libya.'
"The Amash-Kucinich amendment is co-sponsored by a growing group of bipartisan activists, including representatives Ron Paul, Lynn Woolsey, Walter Jones, John Conyers, Barbara Lee, Ted Poe and Pete Stark.
"This could well be an historic moment where a bipartisan coalition rally this is Congress to defend the Constitution and to reset the balance that has been upset by the Administration's claiming the war power.
"Vote to end the war in Libya, support the bipartisan Amash-Kucinich amendment."
Dennis Kucinich is an American politician. A U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1997 to 2013, he was also a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2004 and 2008.
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