U.S. Senator Rand Paul forced the U.S. Senate to hold its first vote addressing an AUMF since 2002, as the Senate voted on his effort to amend the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to sunset the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force.
“For the first time in 15 years, we are debating the congressional role in the declaration of war,” said Senator Paul on the Senate floor before the vote.
“Our job is to enforce, obey, and execute the Constitution,” he later noted. “The Constitution says Congress shall declare war.”
Ultimately, 61 senators voted to continue open-ended, unauthorized war, while 35 stood with Senator Paul to take Congress’ constitutional responsibilities seriously.
Senator Paul’s amendment would have taken effect six months after the 2018 NDAA became law, giving Congress time to hear from the American people and thoroughly debate granting any new, specific authority. You can read his amendment HERE.
You can watch Senator Paul’s floor speech from earlier today HERE.
DonnyFerguson.com 