McGovern Applauds Passage of Language to Sunset 2001 AUMF on House Floor

Washington, June 19, 2019
"The American people are sick and tired of endless wars."
Today, Congressman James P. McGovern, Chairman of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement after passage of an appropriations bill that will sunset the 2001 Authorization of Use of Military Force:

“The American people are sick and tired of endless wars. For nearly two decades, Congress hasn’t done its job. We’ve abdicated our power to authorize military force to the president and put decisions of life and death on remote control. It has cost our country billions of dollars and put countless lives in jeopardy with no vote or debate allowed in Congress.

“I am grateful to Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her work to move this issue forward. We have been fighting together to bring this issue to a vote for over five years. As Chairman of the House Rules Committee, I was proud to break with the precedent set by Republicans and finally allow this to come to the floor for a vote. It’s the right thing to do, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate and President Trump to listen to the American people and end these endless wars once and for all.”