Repealing the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002

Floor Speech

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Ms. JACOBS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support this critical legislation to repeal the 2002 Authorization For Use of Military Force.

I want to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the chair of this committee for their enduring leadership on this issue.

I was in middle school when Congress passed this authorization to use force against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. Today, as a Member of this body, I am voting to repeal it.

I make this point to remind my colleagues that the decisions around war and peace are some of the most consequential ones we make here. My generation has spent our entire adult lives in the shadow of two long and protracted wars.

I am proud to represent San Diego, a military community that has made incredible sacrifices because of that vote in 2002. Now it is time to take it off the books.

Repealing this authorization would not impact any of our current military operations, but repealing it will prevent a future President from abusing it and reclaim Congress' rightful role in authorizing war, ensuring our servicemembers know that they are not being sent to harm's way without a full debate of this representative body. There is nothing rushed about something that has taken 20 years.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this repeal.

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