Peace Action: House Casts Historic Vote to Repeal Authorization for Endless War

In response to the House of Representatives passing H.R. 2740 (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020), which includes language to repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) eight months after the bill becomes law, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement:

"The 2001 AUMF is the legislative underpinning of a generation of endless war--wars that have cost hundreds of thousands of lives and nearly $6 trillion. With the Trump administration flirting with an unconstitutional war with Iran and citing the 2001 AUMF as a potential legal justification, Congress needs to move swiftly to reclaim its constitutional power over war.

"This historic vote in the House is the closest Congress has come to repealing this blank check for war. This progress would not have been possible without the indefatigable work of Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), who cast the sole vote in opposition to the war authorization in 2001 and who has campaigned for its repeal every since. For the repeal of the 2001 AUMF to become law, the Senate will need to overcome its intransigence and stand by the House's decision to reclaim Congress' authority over war. Polls show the American people would reward such a decision."