(USNewsMag.com) – Just days after the 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, the Senate voted, 66-30, for a resolution which repealed the authorizations adopted by Congress for the use of military force in Iraq.
The resolution repeals both the 1991 authorization adopted by Congress before the start of the first Gulf War as well as the 2002 authorization adopted by Congress before the March 2003 invasion.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul tried to add an amendment to the resolution which would have repealed the 2001 authorization for use of military force, which was put in place to target the parties responsible for the Sept. 11 attack. This authorization is currently used as the legal basis for efforts in counterterrorism. The amendment failed.
Another amendment was proposed by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham which would authorize force against Iranian-backed militias that are operating in Iraq. The amendment failed.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio proposed an amendment to halt the repeal of the 2002 authorization until the Biden administration was certain that violent groups and terrorist organizations in Iraq and Syria were not being supported by Iran. The amendment failed.
The 2002 authorization was cited by former President Barack Obama and former President Donald Trump as legal justification for military operations and airstrikes.
Those in favor of repealing the authorizations for use of military force say repealing the authorizations prevents presidents in the future from abuse of power. They also say repealing the authorization does not hurt counterterrorism efforts currently ongoing.
The resolution now moves to the House where House Speaker and California Rep. Kevin McCarthy has said the resolution would likely be brought to the House floor for a vote.
President Joe Biden has said he supports repealing the authorizations put in place in 1991 and 2002, according to Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary.
If the resolution passes the Senate and House, it would formally conclude the two conflicts.
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