Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), with CPC Peace and Security Taskforce Chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), released a statement after Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced a new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) intended to replace the AUMF that passed in the wake of September 11, 2001 and has been used as justification to sidestep Congressional authorization of war:
“After 17 years, trillions of dollars spent, and many lost loved ones, it is time for Congress to end the abdication of its constitutional duty to debate, vote on, declare, and oversee war. No decision is more important. It is no accident that the power to declare war was solely delegated to Congress, the branch of government meant to directly represent the will of the American people.
“The Congressional Progressive Caucus has long called for debate on the abuse of the 2001 AUMF and military engagement around the world, and we are appreciative that our colleagues in the Senate are working to advance this long overdue debate. However, we are deeply concerned that the recently introduced Corker-Kaine Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) would actually prolong the dangerous subversion of Congressional authority.
“Congress should no longer act as a bystander and forego its constitutional obligation to determine what is best for the American people—including during times of conflict. We are committed to reasserting the constitutional right of Congress to be a check on executive power and demand that any new authorization of war has clear objectives, geographic constraints and timeframes, including a clear sunset. Anything less would be an abdication of congressional responsibility.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, with over 70 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and promote civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, a $15 national minimum wage, fair trade, gun violence reform, debt-free college, and making the federal government a Model Employer.
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