Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which authorizes the use of force to defend the national security of the United States against continued threats posed by Iraq. Lucas opposed the repeal. 

“Following the tragic events of September 11^th, 2001, Congress passed into law the 2002 authorization for use of military force, which targeted America’s enemies such as Saddam Hussein, Qasem Soleimani, and the terrorist regimes that emerged as significant threats throughout Iraq and the surrounding region. After nearly two decades of fighting and heroic efforts by American, allied, and Iraqi troops, it’s become apparent our forces’ mission has evolved,” said Congressman Lucas. “Following the deaths of Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, and later the death of Qasem Soleimani, I have long supported re-examining the AUMF measures, but simply repealing the 2002 AUMF without replacing it with reformed war powers would only embolden terrorist adversaries in the region. If Congress and the Biden Administration wish to provide updated war power measures, we should do so in a bipartisan way that doesn’t undermine ongoing security efforts in the region.”

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