Congressman Anthony Brown: The Time Is Now To Reform The Authorities For The Use Of Military Force

Statement

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on administration officials' Wednesday testimony regarding Afghanistan operations and the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force:

"As we withdraw troops from Afghanistan through a responsible and deliberate process, now is the time for Congress to exercise our Constitutional duty and work with the administration to replace outdated authorities and ensure that any updated authorities are narrowly tailored to our security needs. In reassessing and recalibrating our engagement in Afghanistan, we must define our military commitments to the American people.

"In the days following 9/11, Congress rightly authorized military action to hold those accountable who were involved in the grave terrorist attacks against our country and to prevent the loss of additional American lives. After two decades of war, that mission is clearly complete in Afghanistan.

"We must now turn our attention towards the present. When we ask our servicemen and women to put their lives at risk to defend our nation, we must ensure they are undertaking missions that reflect the current threats to our country. I look forward to the Department's response of a full accounting of the authorities needed in Afghanistan, and working with President Biden and my colleagues in Congress to finally pass the long needed reforms to our use of force."

As part of House Armed Services Committee Hearing on Afghanistan, Congressman Brown asked Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey to comment on the implications of the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan on the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, and subsequently requested a full accounting via a written response.

Republican colleagues offered support for the line of questioning, stating a need for public debate on war powers and agreed that we should not be operating under an authority passed two decades prior.

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