Speaker Paul Ryan blocks debate on endless war
Last Updated on July 19, 2017.
Win Without War Director Stephen Miles issued the following statement in response to House Speaker Paul Ryan stripping an amendment to repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force from a House spending bill:
It is the height of irresponsibility that House Speaker Paul Ryan would strip an amendment designed to check the president’s power to wage war, particularly at a time when the current Oval Office occupant is trigger happy and bent on dragging the United States into more wars in the Middle East and beyond.
Rep. Barbara Lee’s amendment to the FY2018 Defense Appropriations Bill would have repealed the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and compelled Congress to debate and vote on America’s endless wars.
But instead of allowing the House to vote on this issue, Speaker Ryan stripped the amendment at the last hour, a move that in effect blocks Congress from carrying out its most important constitutional duty.
Throughout the last 16 years, three different presidents have had a blank check to wage wars around the world. It’s time for Congress to finally provide proper oversight of these wars so that we’re certain the president is acting in the best interests of the United States and its allies, and is keeping America and our troops safe.