The White House said on Friday that it is “committed” to working with Congress on new legislation to repeal the current powers of the presidential war to be replaced by a “narrow and specific structure” to protect US national security, while “end eternal wars”
The compromise comes after a bipartisan group of senators, led by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va. And Todd Young, R-Ind., On Wednesday called for the repeal of the presidential war powers granted by Congress in 1991 and 2002, which would revoke the authorization for military force in the Middle East, as tensions between the United States and Iran.
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“Tim Kaine has been a leader in warpower issues throughout his time in the Senate and has helped build a strong bipartisan coalition that understands the importance of Congress’ constitutional prerogatives,” tweeted White House press secretary Jen Psaki , on Friday.
“We are committed to working with Congress to ensure that authorizations for the use of military force currently in place are replaced by a narrow and specific structure that will ensure that we can protect Americans from terrorist threats and at the same time end eternal wars.” said Psaki.
The legislation was introduced after some lawmakers were frustrated by President Biden’s unilateral call for an air strike in Syria last week, against Iran-backed militant forces that had launched attacks on US targets in Iraq, and after a base military that housed US-led coalition troops was targeted in Iraq.
“Last week’s air strikes in Syria show that the executive branch, regardless of the party, will continue to expand its powers of war,” Kaine said in a statement on Wednesday. “Congress has a responsibility not only to vote to authorize new military actions, but also to revoke old authorizations that are no longer needed.”
Democrats and Republicans have called for an end to America’s “eternal wars” and seek to revoke the president’s ability to continue military force in Iraq – although this does not necessarily limit Biden’s ability to use military action in other nations in the Middle East.
The House and Senate passed a similar measure by Kaine last year that aimed to limit the authority of then President Donald Trumps to launch military operations against Iran, but the legislation was vetoed.
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“Congress is operating on autopilot when it comes to our essential functions of authorizing the use of military force,” said Young. “The fact that the authorities of both wars are still laws today is illustrative of Congress’ bipartisan failure to play its constitutionally determined oversight role.”
Senators across the corridor signed in support of the Kaine-Young bill, including Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill .; Mike Lee, R-Utah; Chris Coons, D-Del .; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Dick Durbin, D-Ill. And Rand Paul, R-Ky.
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A Pentagon spokesman called the attack “worrying” and upheld the Biden government’s decision to launch “defensive” attacks last week.
“The president, as commander-in-chief, has a fundamental responsibility to act in self-defense of our troops and assets abroad, nothing is going to change that,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.