McCaul’s amendment would have removed authorization language included in H.R. 2740 to repeal the 2001 AUMF, our legal authority for fighting terrorists worldwide. Democrats blocked McCaul’s amendment from reaching the floor for debate.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, offered an amendment to H.R. 2740, the appropriations minibus, striking language included in the bill by Democrats to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). This AUMF is our military’s existing legal authority for fighting terrorists around the globe, and without it nearly all counterterror operations would effectively be brought to a halt. McCaul’s amendment was unilaterally rejected by the Pelosi-led House Rules Committee blocking any debate on the House floor or any input from Republicans in Congress or the American people it affects.

“Our number one responsibility as elected officials is protecting our homeland and the American people. Democrats are deliberately abdicating that duty by repealing our legal authority to fight deadly and evolving terrorist threats to the United States,” said Lead Republican McCaul. “The 2001 AUMF provides the authority for our military to confront global threats from Al Qaeda and associated forces such as ISIS, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and al-Shabaab in East Africa. These groups remain committed to our destruction. We cannot deter and defeat them without this authority. Repealing the AUMF without first debating and replacing it is absolutely foolish and an irresponsible move by the Democrats.

“Furthermore, the Democrats’ move to repeal the AUMF by hiding it in a giant Appropriations bill contradicts House rules, which forbid authorizing language in spending bills. On a critical matter of national and homeland security, the Democrats have made an end run around a genuine debate by this House and the American people we represent. Their reckless and indefensible actions should be stopped by my Republican colleagues in the Senate when this political and irresponsible bill reaches their Chamber.”

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