In a surprise and rather stealthy move the House Appropriations Committee has snuck a provision to repeal the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force into the defense appropriations bill, reports Lawfare:
A pretty remarkable development in today’s House Appropriations markup on the Defense Appopriations bill. For many years, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has been putting forward amendments intended to repeal or sunset the 2001 AUMF. They normally do not go anywhere. This morning she moved one that would terminate the 2001 AUMF in 240 days, and lo-and-behold the majority went along with it. It passed with only Kay Granger (R-TX) opposing.
The next step will be taken by the Senate which has been conducting hearings on this subject for some time.
Then there’s getting a bill through the whole House, another through the whole Senate, and reconciling the two pieces of legislation. Finally, there’s the question of whether Trump would sign a bill containing such a provision.
But it’s a step.
Fingers crossed.
Maybe this Congress won’t be complete waste.
This has to pass both Houses and get signed by POTUS? As if!
Steve