Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today joined her Republican and Democratic colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee in approving an amendment that will repeal the Authorization for Military Force (AUMF) passed by Congress following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America and force a floor vote on a new AUMF.
“The national security threats America faced 16 years ago are different than the threats we face today. Three Presidents have used the post-9/11 Authorization for Military Force to circumvent Congress’s constitutional power to declare war and I think my colleagues on both sides of the aisle finally said enough is enough,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. “It’s overdue and necessary that the U.S. House have an open and detailed debate about America’s evolving war on terrorism.”
The amendment passed with near unanimous support and was introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California, who was the only member of Congress to vote against the initial AUMF in 2001. Lee’s amendment would revoke the 2001 AUMF, effective 240 days after the bill is signed into law, forcing Congress to vote on a new AUMF in the interim.
Since her election in 2008, Pingree has signed numerous letters to House leadership urging them to hold a vote on legislation to replace the outdated 2001 AUMF. In the House Appropriations Committee and in floor votes, Pingree has been a persistent and outspoken proponent of revoking the President’s blank check to use military force without Congressional approval.
