WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, strongly supported an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for a new, updated, appropriate Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). 

Norcross’ remarks during the Committee mark-up follow, as prepared for delivery:

“Eight of ten sitting Members of Congress were not here when the Authorizations for the Use of Military Force were passed. Eighty percent of House Members voting yes on anything is considered a large consensus. But eighty percent having no vote and no voice on whether to send our sons & daughters off to war – that’s unacceptable.

“In 2001, the AUMF passed Congress for the purpose of taking action against those who attacked our country on September 11^th. Here we are, 16 years later, and we’re still using that same AUMF.

“We’re using an AUMF that is more than a decade old, three Presidents removed, with eight Congresses passed. Think about how much our world has changed in the past 16 years and, yet, our AUMF hasn’t changed.

“Today’s amendment would update the AUMF from 2001 (that authorized the Afghanistan War) & the AUMF from 2002 (that authorized the Iraq War). It would – instead – address the current crises.

“The AUMF amendment we’re proposing would authorize the use of force against Al Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Afghan Taliban. These are the groups we are actually at war with now and our AUMF should reflect that. More importantly, our AUMF should be voted on by the Representatives of today, not of yesterday, not of decades ago.

“As Members of Congress, it is our duty, our obligation and our responsibility to vote on a new AUMF. I encourage my colleagues to discuss, debate and deliberate. Let’s do what Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution demands of us: ‘The Congress shall have Power... To declare War.’

“I thank Representative Moulton for offering this amendment today.

“The military community agrees that we need a new AUMF. Let’s listen to them and take action through the NDAA process. I encourage my colleagues to support this new, updated, appropriate AUMF. Thank you.”

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Contact: Ally Kehoe, Communications Director
ally.kehoe@mail.house.gov