The Senate held its first vote to advance a bipartisan bill that would bring an official end to the Gulf and Iraq wars, teeing up the legislation for a final vote in the coming days.
Lawmakers voted 68-27, with 19 Republicans joining Democrats, to begin debate on repealing the authorizations for the use of military force passed in 1991 and 2002 that paved the way for the United States to get involved in the Middle East wars. The vote marks the first procedural hurdle lawmakers must face to push the legislation through the upper chamber, setting the stage for amendments to be introduced over the next week.
EFFORT TO REPEAL RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING MILITARY FORCE SPLITS SENATE REPUBLICANS
“We expect to have amendment votes,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters on Wednesday. “We’re going to work together … so that we can have some amendment votes.”
It’s not yet clear what amendments will be put forward, but Schumer indicated leaders from both parties were working together to negotiate changes.
"While the Iraq War was the cause of so much bitterness in the past, I'm glad that repealing these AUMFs has been a genuinely bipartisan effort," the Democratic leader said in a Senate speech on Thursday.
One amendment lawmakers may consider is language that would clarify the president’s authority when it comes to military action. The legislation seeks to reduce the president’s unilateral authority to deploy troops, marking an effort by lawmakers to reassert congressional authority over declarations of war.
Other amendments could specify what military actions the United States can still take in Iraq even after the AUMFs are lifted, that way ensuring they still have some military presence in the area.
The vote comes one week before the 20-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which some lawmakers have pointed to as evidence the AUMFs are outdated.
“Later this month, we will mark the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Today, Iraq is a partner of the United States and critical to efforts to counter Iran,” Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), the second author of the bill, said in a statement. “Repealing these outdated AUMFs will demonstrate America’s commitment to Iraqi sovereignty. Just as important, it is vital to restoring the proper role of Congress in authorizing the use of military force and affirmatively stating when conflicts are over."
Members of Congress have previously pushed to end the military declarations in an attempt to prevent “potential misuse” by future presidents.
House lawmakers passed a bill repealing the pair of AUMFs in the last Congress, but those efforts failed to make it to a vote in the deadlocked Senate. However, supporters of the legislation say they’re confident they have enough votes to overcome a filibuster and hold a vote as soon as next week.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a lead co-sponsor of the legislation, told the Washington Examiner last week at least 65 senators are expected to back the bill, all but guaranteeing its passage.
“The bigger the margin we get [in the Senate], the better the chances are [in the House],” Kaine said. “The bipartisan co-sponsors in the House are pretty ideologically broad, so that’s going to be helpful with the speaker.”
The bill would then head to the House, where it’s unclear whether House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will agree to bring it up for a vote. The Republican leader didn’t support the legislation in the last Congress, but some lawmakers have indicated it could garner enough support among Republicans to pass the lower chamber.
President Joe Biden has expressed support for the bill, releasing a formal endorsement ahead of the procedural vote on Thursday.
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“President Biden remains committed to working with the Congress to ensure that outdated authorizations for the use of military force are replaced with a narrow and specific framework more appropriate to protecting Americans from modern terrorist threats,” the White House said in a statement. “Toward that end, the Administration will ensure that Congress has a clear and thorough understanding of the effect of any such action and of the threats facing U.S. forces, personnel, and interests around the world.”
Repealing the authorizations would not disrupt current operations in the Middle East, nor would it prevent the U.S. from initiating a military response to future threats. The legislation also does not deal with the 2001 AUMF initiated in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.