Senate Votes to Sunset UAMF

Source: House Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA 13th)
Source: Senator Rand Paul (R - KY)

The U.S. Senate will hold a vote on U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s amendment to the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to sunset the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force.

This will mark the first Senate vote addressing an AUMF since 2002.

Senator Paul’s amendment would take effect six months after the 2018 NDAA becomes law, giving Congress time to hear from the American people and thoroughly debate granting any new, specific authority. You can read his amendment HERE.

Earlier today, Senator Paul spoke on the Senate floor to demand Congress take its constitutional responsibilities seriously and vote on his amendment.

“I rise today to oppose unauthorized, undeclared, and unconstitutional war,” said Senator Paul.

You can find Senator Paul’s remarks as prepared for delivery HERE, and you can find video of his full remarks on the floor HERE.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement on the Senate vote to table Senator Paul amendment to sunset the 2001 and 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF):

“For sixteen years, Congress has abdicated its fundamental constitutional responsibility to debate and vote on matters of war and peace. While young men and women risk their lives for this country, Congress has been unable to muster the courage to vote on our endless wars.

“Earlier this year, my amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF was adopted in a bipartisan vote in the House Appropriations Committee. This amendment, which sunset the 2001 AUMF eight months after enactment, would have given Congress ample time to debate and vote on a new war authorization. But before it could reach the House Floor, Speaker Ryan and Republican House leadership stripped the amendment in the darkof night.

“And now, with the vote today to table Senator Paul’s amendment, Congress once again chose political convenience over our duty to the American people and service members.

“While this outcome is disappointing, we must and will keep fighting to get this blank check for war off the books. The constitution – and the American people – deserve no less.”

This would effectively stop Trump from using military force in the MiddleEast as he has said he would do, or release "fire and fury" on North Korea. If this gets passed, blame Congress, not Trump.