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prev nextHome | Policy | DefenseLawmakers introduce bicameral ISIS war authorization By Kristina Wong - 12/10/15 01:46 PM ESTTwo House lawmakers on Thursday introduced a measure to authorize military force against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), making it the first bipartisan and bicameral measure to do so. Reps. Scott Rigell (R-Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the legislation, a companion bill to a measure in the Senate offered by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). ADVERTISEMENTIt would expire after three years unless reauthorized, repeal the Iraq War authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) and be the sole authorization for the war against ISIS.The Obama administration currently maintains it has the authority to prosecute the war using the 2001 AUMF intended against al Qaeda, but it has argued a new AUMF in the war against ISIS would signal Congress's support for the war and the troops fighting it. A RAND Corporation report released this week faulted the administration for "legal gymnastics" in using the 2001 AUMF to justify the new war against ISIS and recommended Congress pass a new measure. Several other lawmakers, including presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), have introduced measures of their own, but this new effort is the only one that is both bipartisan and bicameral.
