malkusm
05-26-2011, 09:40 PM
...and it passed the House today by a vote of 322-96.
Rep. Justin Amash introduced an amendment during the proceedings which would have struck Section 1034 of the bill. Section 1034 is named: "AFFIRMATION OF ARMED CONFLICT WITH AL-QAEDA, THE TALIBAN, AND ASSOCIATED FORCES." The text is as follows:
Congress affirms that--
(1) the United States is engaged in an armed conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces and that those entities continue to pose a threat to the United States and its citizens, both domestically and abroad;
(2) the President has the authority to use all necessary and appropriate force during the current armed conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note);
(3) the current armed conflict includes nations, organization, and persons who--
(A) are part of, or are substantially supporting, al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners; or
(B) have engaged in hostilities or have directly supported hostilities in aid of a nation, organization, or person described in subparagraph (A); and
(4) the President's authority pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) includes the authority to detain belligerents, including persons described in paragraph (3), until the termination of hostilities.
Amash posted this on his Facebook page regarding the bill:
just voted no on H R 1540, Nat'l Defense Authorization Act. The bill includes Sec. 1034, which I attempted to strike via amendment (supported by 21 Rs and 166 Ds). That section authorizes the President to use military force anywhere, anytime, against almost anyone without further congressional approval. A war against Libya, Syria, or any other nation would be authorized if this bill becomes law. It passed 322-96.
This bill now goes to the Senate. This bears repeating: If Section 1034 remains unamended, and the bill is signed into law, the President would essentially have limitless war-making power, unchecked by Congress or the people.
Rep. Justin Amash introduced an amendment during the proceedings which would have struck Section 1034 of the bill. Section 1034 is named: "AFFIRMATION OF ARMED CONFLICT WITH AL-QAEDA, THE TALIBAN, AND ASSOCIATED FORCES." The text is as follows:
Congress affirms that--
(1) the United States is engaged in an armed conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces and that those entities continue to pose a threat to the United States and its citizens, both domestically and abroad;
(2) the President has the authority to use all necessary and appropriate force during the current armed conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note);
(3) the current armed conflict includes nations, organization, and persons who--
(A) are part of, or are substantially supporting, al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners; or
(B) have engaged in hostilities or have directly supported hostilities in aid of a nation, organization, or person described in subparagraph (A); and
(4) the President's authority pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) includes the authority to detain belligerents, including persons described in paragraph (3), until the termination of hostilities.
Amash posted this on his Facebook page regarding the bill:
just voted no on H R 1540, Nat'l Defense Authorization Act. The bill includes Sec. 1034, which I attempted to strike via amendment (supported by 21 Rs and 166 Ds). That section authorizes the President to use military force anywhere, anytime, against almost anyone without further congressional approval. A war against Libya, Syria, or any other nation would be authorized if this bill becomes law. It passed 322-96.
This bill now goes to the Senate. This bears repeating: If Section 1034 remains unamended, and the bill is signed into law, the President would essentially have limitless war-making power, unchecked by Congress or the people.