On Saturday, March 10, 2018, the Democratic National Committee adopted a resolution supporting bipartisan efforts to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and calling on Congress to debate and vote on war.
The resolution was submitted by FCNL’s Legislative Director for Human Rights and Civil Liberties Yasmine Taeb (Yasmine also serves as a DNC Committeewoman), Congressman Keith Ellison (MN), Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), and several other members of the DNC for consideration during its March 2018 meeting. Adopting this resolution signifies that the Democratic Party will encourage Democratic Members in Congress to reassert their constitutional authority by supporting efforts to repeal the 2001 AUMF and to hold a debate and vote on war.
Yasmine Taeb made the following statement:
“We are thrilled to see that the Democratic National Committee is taking this important step in calling on Congress to exercise its constitutionally-designated authority to determine when and where our country goes to war. Passed only three days after the attacks of 9/11, the 2001 AUMF has given three administrations expansive and endless war-making powers without consulting Congress. This is an abdication of Congress’ constitutional duties. We are heartened that the Democratic Party recognizes the dangers of using an outdated war authority, as it has led to endless war and ever-increasing U.S. military action abroad.
“Moreover, we strongly support the call for bipartisan action on this issue. Democrats and Republicans must reach across the aisle and work together to create lasting change and reclaim Congress’s war authority. It is past time for Congress to have a debate and vote on war. We urge the Republican National Committee to adopt a similar proposal calling on Congress to repeal the 2001 AUMF and to debate and vote on war.”
The resolution is included below:
Submitted by:
Yasmine Taeb, Virginia
Congressman Keith Ellison, DNC Deputy Chair/Minnesota
Congresswoman Grace Meng, DNC Vice-Chair/New York
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, California
James Zogby, At-Large/Washington, D.C.
Larry Cohen, At-Large/Washington, D.C.
Michael Kapp, California
Chris Reeves, Kansas
Travis Nelson, Oregon
Andrew Werthmann, Wisconsin
Khary Penebaker, Wisconsin
John Eastwood, Democrats Abroad
Bart Dame, Hawaii
Jeri Shepherd, Colorado
Jessica Sell Chambers, Wyoming
Valdez Bravo, Oregon
Winston Apple, Missouri
Tim Vandeveer, Chair, Hawaii
Atima Omara, Virginia
Terje Anderson, Chair, Vermont
Tanya Shively, Oregon
John Verdejo, North Carolina
Carrie Pugh, At-Large/District of Columbia
Resolution Calling Upon the Democratic Members of the 115th Congress to Reassert their Constitutional Authority to Repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and to Debate and Vote on a new AUMF
WHEREAS, the Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war; and
WHEREAS, the framers of the Constitution understood that the monumental decision to go to war, which can result in massive death and the destruction of civilized society, must be made by the representatives of the people and not by a single person; and
WHEREAS, the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) was passed three days after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in order to target those who committed or assisted with the attacks; and
WHEREAS, the 2001 AUMF is an overly broad piece of legislation that has been used as an open-ended authorization for the use of military force; and
WHEREAS, according to a 2018 Congressional Research Service report, the 2001 AUMF has been used to conduct at least 41 military actions in 18 different countries; and
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s amendment to the 2018 Department of Defense appropriations bill to repeal the 2001 AUMF passed with bipartisan support on June 29, 2017 but was stripped from the appropriations bill by Speaker Paul Ryan; and
WHEREAS, it is long past time for Congress to reclaim its constitutionally-designated authority by setting clear parameters around where and when our nation uses military force; and
WHEREAS, the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the House Liberty Caucus held an Ad-Hoc Hearing on the 2001 AUMF on February 27, 2018 that focused on the need to repeal the 2001 AUMF; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee strongly encourages Democratic lawmakers to join bipartisan efforts to assert Congress’ proper role and oversight responsibilities in determining when and where the United States uses military force by supporting efforts to repeal the 2001 AUMF and debate and vote on a new AUMF.
