Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today gave a floor speech in support of his amendment repealing the 2002 and 1991 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in the NDAA: 

The floor speech as prepared can be found below: 

“I rise in strong support of my amendment to the NDAA which would finally repeal both the 2002 and 1991 Authorizations for Use of Military Force, or AUMFs. These AUMFs are long obsolete. By remaining on the books, these AUMFs only risk abuse by administrations of either party to sanction military force that Congress has not considered or approved.  

“It is time for Congress to reclaim its constitutional authority over matters of war and peace – it's Article 1 war powers - by removing these open-ended AUMFs once and for all. I am thankful to my colleagues who have worked to pass these repeals, having nearly passed both chambers in the 117th and 118th Congress, and particularly thank Representatives Roy and Massie along with the many cosponsors who have joined this bipartisan effort.  

“This amendment is going to pass because a clear majority of this House agrees it is time to close these chapters of endless war.  

“I am prepared to fight in conference to get this over the finish line. It is time to, once and for all, end the forever wars.  

I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure and I reserve the balance of my time.”