Bipartisan celebration on Capitol Hill honors The American Legion and other partners that helped the legislation finally receive approval.
It was a celebration decades in the making.
Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Todd Young, R-Ind., hosted an event Jan. 13 for prominent partners to celebrate their work in repealing outdated Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) against Iraq.
The American Legion was among the organizations praised for their support of the AUMFs by both Kaine and Young during their remarks at the Russell Senate Office Building.
In October 2020, The American Legion National Executive Committee approved Resolution No. 22, addressing the “Forever War.” The resolution urged “a renewal of a proper constitutional balance to American foreign policy decision-making by encouraging Congress to repeal and replace outdated Authorizations for Use of Military Force.”
Last month Congress approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 which included the provision to repeal the outdated 1991 and 2002 AUMFs. This effort aimed to end the legal justification for potentially decades-old conflicts, preventing their misuse for modern operations, and reasserting Congress's constitutional role in authorizing war.
American Legion Executive Director Mario Marquez touted the passage of the bill, which has been an organizational priority.
“The American Legion is proud to have been a partner in this endeavor and are excited to see this finally come to fruition,” Marquez said. “After years of effort, it is so important for these outdated authorities to be rescinded and for Congress to have the opportunity to reassert itself in the process of determining when it is justified in sending our troops to war. I'd like to give a special mention to the Legion volunteers and staff who worked very hard over the years to help this come to fruition."
- Legislative