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As the House took up the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) called out House Republican leadership for continuing to ignore the constitutional duty of Congress to debate and vote on the nearly two-year U.S. military operation against ISIS in the Middle East. Click here for video of today’s speech.

McGovern offered a bipartisan amendment to the NDAA to prohibit the use of any U.S. funds after April 30, 2017, for the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces to Iraq or Syria in the fight against the Islamic State if an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) has still not been enacted. The amendment was rejected by House Republicans on the Rules Committee.

Excerpts of Congressman McGovern’s Speech:

“There is no shortage of Members of Congress talking tough against ISIS. But let’s be honest, that takes absolutely no courage at all. None of us are on the front lines in Syria or Iraq. We’re all safe and sound in the U.S. Capitol. We have sent our uniformed men and women into harm’s way in Syria and Iraq for nearly two years now. And still, Congress refuses to do its duty and authorize their deployment. 

“In fact, I remember that last year Speaker Ryan said an AUMF for Iraq and Syria – for the war against the Islamic State – would be one of the first things this Congress would take up this year.  Well, here we are in the middle of May and there’s no AUMF in sight.

“I guess this Congress is just too damn chicken to do its job when it comes to war and we’re going to kick the can into the 115^th Congress.

“Every single member of this House should be ashamed. Our collective silence – our collective indifference – is dismissive of our Constitutional responsibility. This chamber is guilty of moral cowardice. I urge my colleagues to show some backbone and demand that the Majority Leadership of this House carry out its constitutional duty to debate and vote on an AUMF for Iraq and Syria.”

McGovern has been a leading voice in the push for Congress to finally vote on whether or not to authorize military action against ISIS. McGovern forced a House floor debate in May 2015, speaking to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow about the effort, and in November 2015 McGovern led a bipartisan group of 35 House lawmakers calling for Speaker Ryan to let the House debate and vote on an AUMF. In December 2015, Speaker Ryan said that a debate and vote on an AUMF would be a 2016 priority, but five months later, Americans are still waiting.

Click here for video of today’s speech.

Full Text of Congressman McGovern’s Floor Speech is Below:

As Prepared for Delivery

“I would like to thank the honorable Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Thornberry, and the Ranking Member, Mr. Smith of Washington, for once again working in a bipartisan manner to bring before this House H.R. 4909, the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.  I appreciate that the Chairman and Ranking Member always treat all members submitting amendments to the NDAA with respect. 

“But I must rise in opposition to this structured rule because there are very serious issues that merit the time and attention of this House that were submitted  to the Rules Committee by Members from both sides of the aisle which have NOT been included in this structured rule. 

“If there is one thing that most disturbs me about this structured rule, it is how it fails the American people, once again, in not allowing substantial debate about the issues of war and peace.

“Nothing is more critical than the issues of war and peace, and once again the Republicans of the Rules Committee have ensured that no amendment that deals with authorizing the current U.S. military engagements in Iraq, Syria or Afghanistan was made in order.  The only amendment made in order is the one offered by the gentlelady from California, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, to repeal the 2001 AUMF for Afghanistan, an amendment that she has courageously offered for several years now.

“One of the amendments NOT made in order was an amendment offered by me and several colleagues to prohibit the use of any U.S. funds after April 30, 2017, for the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces to Iraq or Syria in the fight against the Islamic State if an AUMF has not been enacted.

“This was a bipartisan amendment offered by Representatives Jones, Garamendi, Yoho, Lee of California, Cicilline and myself.

“And let me make one thing very clear, M. Speaker – This amendment is NOT an AUMF.  There is not one single syllable in this amendment that reflects the language of an AUMF.

“The distinguished Chairman of the Armed Services Committee was very clear during the Committee mark-up of the NDAA that AUMF amendments were not the jurisdiction of his Committee, but rather the Foreign Affairs Committee.

“But this amendment is NOT an AUMF.

“My amendment only prohibits the obligation and expenditure of funds after April 30^th – which is the Chairman’s chosen date for the cut off of all OCO funding – and then only for the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces to Iraq and Syria to combat ISIS unless an authorization for that purpose has been enacted.

“Quite simply, if you want the money to fight a war, then pass an AUMF.

“This amendment doesn’t care who writes it.  It doesn’t care when it’s debated or approved.

“It just requires that an AUMF be enacted by April 30^th.  If not, no more funds for U.S. troops in the air, on the water or on the ground until an AUMF is enacted.

“All this amendment asks is for Congress to do its job.

“We ask our men and women in the military to do their jobs – and heaven only knows, they carry out their duty with courage, honor and professionalism.

“I only ask that Congress do the same.

“This should not be too much to ask. We have sent our uniformed men and women into harm’s way in Syria and Iraq for nearly two years now. And still, Congress refuses to do its duty and authorize their deployment. 

“We’ve been bombing. We’ve got boots on the ground and engaged in combat, and we’ve had troops killed in action. Yet this Congress can’t seem to debate and vote on an AUMF.

“I personally believe that endless wars, endless bombing and an ever expanding U.S. military footprint in the Middle East is not a substitute for efforts aimed at reconciliation and political solutions – the status quo will not make the world more secure.  I know some of my colleagues differ with me – and that's fine.  But let's have the debate.  Let's have clarity in what we are doing. And let's make sure what we are doing works. Dodging responsibility only means that these wars will remain on remote control – and that’s sad.

“Last night in the Rules Committee I heard arguments that 10 minutes would not be enough time to debate such a serious matter.  Well, M. Speaker, the Rules Committee can assign as much time as it wants to debate an amendment – 2 hours, 3 hours, 3 days if it wishes.  That’s what the Rules Committee is supposed to do – provide serious time to debate serious issues.

“I heard that the Foreign Affairs Committee should be and would be drafting an AUMF.  Fine – if it comes out and is enacted before April 30^th, then it would fit right in with my amendment.  But if this House continues to dawdle and whine and shirk its duties, then there should be no money after April 30^th for a war that hasn’t been authorized by Congress.

“I was told that the Republican leadership doesn’t like the AUMF that the president sent to Congress over a year ago. Well, neither do I.  I think it’s too broad.  But, if the majority or anyone doesn’t like the president’s AUMF, then it’s the duty of Congress to draft, debate and vote upon its own version of an AUMF – and send that bill back to the president for his signature or veto.  That’s how the system works – or at least that’s how it would work if this House ever managed to do its job.

“I was told that the next president wouldn’t have enough time to figure out an AUMF for Iraq and Syria by April 30^th.  But M. Speaker, I didn’t choose April 30^th as the date when all funds for the Overseas Contingency Operations account would be cut off – that date is built into the NDAA already.  If April 30^th is time enough for a new president and new Congress to ask for more money for these wars in a supplemental, then it should be plenty of time for the Congress to take up and debate an AUMF.

“Of course, this Congress – not the next one – should and could take up an AUMF any day it so desires.  I remember in 2014 that Speaker Boehner told us that it would be better for the 114^th Congress to debate and pass and AUMF for Iraq and Syria, rather than the 113^th Congress.  Well, here we are, sixteen-and-a-half months into the 114^th Congress – with no thought of taking up an AUMF on battling the Islamic State.  I guess this Congress is just too damn chicken to do its job when it comes to war and we’re going to kick the can into the 115^th Congress.

“Enough with the excuses, M. Speaker.

“In fact, I remember that last year Speaker Ryan said an AUMF for Iraq and Syria – for the war against the Islamic State – would be one of the first things this Congress would take up this year.  Well, here we are in the middle of May and there’s no AUMF in sight.

“Just the same old tired excuses.  The same cowardice.  The same political posturing.

“There is no shortage of Members of Congress talking tough against ISIS. But let’s be honest, that takes absolutely no courage at all. None of us are on the front lines in Syria or Iraq. We’re all safe and sound in the U.S. Capitol.

“But think for a minute. What must be going through the minds of our troops when they see a Congress that doesn’t even have the guts to debate these wars – while they have been put in harm’s way?

“Every single member of this House should be ashamed. Our collective silence – our collective indifference – is dismissive of our Constitutional responsibility. This chamber is guilty of moral cowardice.

“There are nearly 200 reasons to oppose this rule – that’s how many of the  amendments submitted to the Rules Committee were NOT made in order under either the first rule to the NDAA or today’s rule.  Basically 50 percent of all amendments submitted are not being allowed a chance to be heard.

“I urge my colleagues to reject this rule.  I urge my colleagues to show some backbone and demand that the Majority Leadership of this House carry out its constitutional duty to debate and vote on an AUMF for Iraq and Syria.”

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