Barrett Launches Fourth Pillar of Blueprint for a Better America to Recalibrate American Foreign Policy

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today launched the fourth pillar of his Blueprint for a Better America: Recalibrating American Foreign Policy. The four pieces of bipartisan legislation included in this package would promote peace through strength and prevent endless wars by increasing congressional oversight of military operations, establishing an automatic expiration for Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), and repealing an outdated authorization.

Barrett is an Army veteran who served for 22 years in multiple key locations around the world, including Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Kuwait, and the Korean DMZ. After serving for nearly the entire duration of the war on terror, he returned home and made reining in prolonged military involvement and reforming America's approach to foreign policy a top priority. Last year, he successfully advocated for the repeal of the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs for the Gulf and Iraq wars as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

"During my 22 years in the Army, I served in places like Iraq and Kuwait where I had a front row seat to the total human cost of war. I watched as more than 7,000 Americans were killed, including friends of mine, and another 30,000 took their own lives as a result of a two-decades-long War on Terror that had no clear objective, no end in sight, and culminated in the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan," said Barrett. "The Recalibrating American Foreign Policy pillar of my Blueprint for a Better America is about acknowledging that failure and getting it right for the next generation. These bills are a critical first step towards Congress reclaiming its authority and ensuring our sons and daughters are never again sent overseas to fight in another endless war."

"Rep. Barrett's war powers package helps restore Congress' Article I role in decisions of war and peace," said John Vick, Executive Director, Concerned Veterans for America. "CVA welcomes Congressional efforts to reassume their solemn and exclusive role to decide when we go to war. Connecting American citizens to that decision, via their elected representatives, is essential for ensuring that the use of force is accountable to the American people and aligned with our nation's most vital interests."

Today, Barrett introduced the following three bills and one constitutional amendment:

• The Military Force Oversight Amendment to amend the Constitution to require any new AUMF to expire after five years unless reauthorized by Congress.
• The Prevent Endless Wars Act to require a five-year or less sunset for AUMFs that are fast-tracked through Congress under the War Powers Resolution to provide authority for previously unauthorized military engagement.
• The War Powers Priority Procedures Modernization Act to expedite consideration of measures to end unauthorized military force under the War Powers Resolution. While a member of either chamber of Congress may introduce a joint resolution to block military force, only the Senate has the procedural ability to fast-track the measure. This legislation would give the House of Representatives that same fast-track authority, which both chambers already have for concurrent resolutions.
• The Cold War Military Force Repeal Act to repeal the outdated 1957 AUMF that authorized the president to use military force to protect nations in the Middle East against armed aggression from communist nations.

Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) allow Congress to grant the president authority for a particular military action or intervention without formally declaring war. Congress hasn't declared war since 1942, using solely AUMFs for authorizing military combat.

The bills Barrett introduced today were first covered by the Detroit News; click here to read more.

About Barrett's Blueprint for a Better America:

• Restoring Trust in Government: Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests
• Reviving the American Dream: Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan
• Making Health Care Affordable Again: Lowering Costs for Working Families
• Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength
• Reforming Campaign Finance: Putting Governing Before Campaigning