J Street commends the Senate’s bipartisan passage of a measure repealing the 2002 and 1991 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force against Iraq. This is an important and long-overdue step towards ending our forever wars in the Middle East and preventing potential abuse of these AUMFs to justify unauthorized military operations.
J Street was proud to join a broad range of pro-diplomacy, veterans and human rights groups in advocating for this measure and against hawkish amendments, which themselves demonstrated the urgent need to repeal these AUMFs to prevent their exploitation. The responsibility to declare war is among the most solemn and consequential of Congress’ functions — it is not a power to be exercised through shortcuts or shoehorning.
J Street urges the House of Representatives to take up and pass this measure so that President Biden can sign it into law.