Right now, we have a rare window of opportunity to pass a law that would immediately make all our military families safer. H.R. 256 is a bill that would repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) Against Iraq. If that sounds like confusing jargon to you, here’s a clearer example for why this matters:
In January 2020, U.S. airstrikes killed a prominent Iranian general and brought our countries to the brink of another war. The President at the time took this action without consulting Congress.
Why? Because he didn’t have to. The 2002 AUMF against Iraq was used as legal justification to justify a strike without input from the legislative branch of government. This outdated and unnecessary law has enabled Presidents from both parties to take military actions without any public debate. The longer it stays on the books, the longer our troops remain vulnerable to reckless presidential action in the future.
Bipartisan Members of Congress and the White House have all indicated interest in repealing the 2002 AUMF. What they need now is to hear from constituents that this is important.
Take Action
If you believe in reducing unnecessary wars…
If you believe in maintaining Constitutional authorities…
If you believe that our service families deserve a war-fighting process that’s maximally deliberative, accountable, and transparent…
…then join us. Tell a Member of Congress why this issue is so important to you by sharing your story.
We are targeting Members of Congress who serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Once you fill out this form, you will be paired with the Member from this list who is closest to you (even if they’re not necessarily YOUR Representative).
Want to learn more about War Powers and AUMFs? Check out our War Powers 101 overview.