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House Armed Services Committee Vice Chair Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) introduced companion legislation with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to fundamentally reform and restore Congressional authority over the nation’s war powers. The “War Powers Reform Resolution,” H.J. Res. 83 would amend the existing War Powers Resolution to ensure Congress is given proper notification of conflict, while limiting forever wars.

Specifically, the resolution would require future authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs) to provide strategic objectives, clear justification, defined adversaries and specific countries for military actions. AUMFs would be limited to a maximum two-years. Additionally, the “War Powers Reform Resolution” would prohibit funding for military actions outside the defined parameters of an AUMF, renew transparency in presidential reporting to Congress and repeal both the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs.

“Congress reasserting its Constitutional authority in matters of war and peace is long overdue,” said House Armed Services Committee Vice Chair Anthony Brown. “I have witnessed firsthand the toll these wars have had on our country and the limited progress we’ve made despite the extraordinary courage and resolve of our troops. As a 30-year Army veteran, I understand our responsibility to ensure the missions they undertake are clear, defined and achievable. As President Trump stumbles from one international conflict to the next and recklessly escalates tensions with Iran, it is our duty as the people’s representatives to provide strategic guidance and guardrails.”

“For nearly two decades, Congress has yielded its constitutional authority to declare war to the presidency. Authorizations for military force that were intended to defeat Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and remove the perceived threat in Iraq, have been used for over 18 years of war in multiple countries, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost, and trillions of dollars spent,” said Senator Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee. “Just weeks ago, President Trump brought us to the brink of war with Iran, without notifying Congress or seeking its advice or consent. Congress must act before it’s too late. Congress must take back this responsibility by passing the War Powers Reform Resolution, which would set clear and defined goals for the use of military force abroad, place a limit to how long, where, and against whom we can continue military action without a new authorization, and finally put a stop to endless wars and prevent them in the future.”