KAINE, LEE, MERKLEY, & PAUL INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO REPEAL 1957 AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal an obsolete Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that dates back to 1957 under the Eisenhower Administration. Also known as the Middle East Force Resolution, the AUMF provides broad authority to use military force against countries in the Middle East in order to combat the influence of the Soviet Union. It has never been invoked but remains the longest active AUMF.

"When I was Governor of Virginia, I saw firsthand the human toll and costs of war on Americans, particularly our military families. That's why I've fought to restore Congress' role in decisions of war and peace since I came into the Senate," said Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. "The 1957 AUMF, which has never been invoked, serves no purpose and runs the risk of potential misuse. We must repeal this outdated and unnecessary law and reaffirm our most solemn constitutional responsibility of whether to send our nation's sons and daughters into war."

"Outdated Congressional authorizations for military action should not sit on the books forever as a blank check; it is important to repeal the ones that have run their course," said Lee. "Our bipartisan bill will clean the slate by repealing a Cold War-era AUMF in the Middle East that is no longer necessary."

"Congress must repeal this decades-old authorization to prevent its misuse and reduce the risk of another costly and unnecessary forever war," said Merkley. "It is essential to restore Congressional power on questions of war as our Founders envisioned."

"It is long past due for Congress to reclaim its constitutional duty regarding declarations of war," said Paul. "This obsolete authorization for the use of military force dates back to 1957 and should be repealed to ensure deliberation and a vote before the men and women of the armed forces are placed in harm's way."

Bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1957 authorization has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Tom Barrett (R-MI-07) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02). In 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 366-46 to pass legislation that repealed the 1957 AUMF.

Full text of the Senate legislation is available here.

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