Biparty Senators Unveil Bill To Reclaim Congressional National Security Powers



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The senses. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) And Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Tuesday unveiled a bill intended to reshuffle Congress’s role in national security matters, including taking over the authority over war powers, arms exports and national emergency declarations.

Why is this important: All three senators criticized the executive’s unilateral decision-making on key national security issues, including attacks by President Trump and President Biden on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria without permission of Congress.

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  • Murphy, Sanders and Lee also co-sponsored legislation under the Trump administration to end US support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, which created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.

  • “I think we have become far too comfortable with the United States engaging in military interventions all over the world, and it is high time that Congress reaffirmed its constitutional role in war and peace. “Sanders said in a statement.

Details, according to an invoice summary:

  • Reform of the powers of war: The bill would end existing authorizations for the use of military force (AUMF), set out requirements for future AUMFs, cut funding for unauthorized military actions, and shorten the 60-day window for the president to end. to “hostilities” which are not authorized Congress.

  • Reform of arms exports: Bill would require Congress to give an affirmative vote before allowing arms sales of “the most destructive and potentially destabilizing weapons” and remove controversial elements from group votes approving arms sales .

  • Emergency national reform: The bill would require Congress to proactively approve declarations of emergency (rather than attempt to reverse them), end “permanent” emergencies that date back decades, and ensure that emergency powers are specifically linked. to the declared emergency.

What to watch: Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) Is expected to unveil similar legislation in the House in the coming weeks.

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