Virginia Public Radio: Spanberger Bill Reversing 1991 AUMF Likely to Pass House

Jun 28, 2021
Good Governance
In the News
National Defense & Foreign Affairs
Veterans' Issues

VIRGINIA PUBLIC RADIO, MICHAEL POPE

Back in 1991, Congress passed an authorization for use of military force against Iraq, one that’s still active today.

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger says it’s time for Congress to repeal that resolution.

“They are not supposed to be on the books forever, and they are not supposed to just be open-ended authorizations where any president now or in the future could decide to take action because of an old vote that was taken in some cases decades ago,” she explains.

This is only one of several authorization of military force resolutions that are still active today, including one from 1957, one from 2001 and another one from 2002. Dan Grazier at the Center for Defense Information says the Constitution isn’t supposed to work this way.

“Repealing these authorizations is really an effort to claw back a key constitutional function from the executive back to the legislative branch,” Grazier says. “So this isn’t about the war on terrorism.”

Spanberger’s bill has widespread support in both parties in the House, but it faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where some senators might be skeptical of doing anything that might limit a presidential administration’s ability to take swift military action whenever it wants and wherever it wants.

Recent Posts


Oct 11, 2024
Social Security, Medicare, & Retirement

NEW: Spanberger Pens Op-Ed Urging Colleagues to Vote to Pass Her Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate WEP & GPO

The Bipartisan “Social Security Fairness Act” Would Eliminate Two Provisions of the “Social Security Act” That Unfairly Reduce Benefits for Millions of Americans Who Have Devoted Much of Their Careers to Public Service Thanks to the Congresswoman’s Effort to Force a Vote on the Legislation, the “Social Security Fairness Act” Will Come to the U.S. […]



Oct 10, 2024
Energy & Environment

Spanberger Urges Speaker Johnson to Call U.S. House Back to Capitol Hill to Pass Emergency Appropriations Funding Following Hurricanes Helene & Milton

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger is urging U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to call Members of Congress back to Capitol Hill to pass supplemental appropriations funds to support Virginia’s communities and communities across the Southeastern United State in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In a letter to Speaker Johnson, Spanberger and […]



Oct 10, 2024
Good Governance

NEW: Spanberger Ranked #1 Most Collaborative Member of Congress from Virginia, #3 in the Country

An “A” Bridge Grade is Given to Members of Congress Who Exemplify Governing Behaviors that Bridge Our Country Rather than Divide It WOODBRIDGE, Va. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger this week was ranked as the most collaborative Member of Congress from Virginia — and the third most collaborative lawmaker on Capitol Hill. Bridge Grades score […]