Sen. Kaine pushes Congress to repeal Iraq war powers

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Virginia U.S. Senator Tim Kaine says Congress is finally moving to repeal the decades-old Iraq war authorizations.

On Wednesday, December 10, he explained why he believes this vote is long overdue.

Senator Tim Kaine says ending the 1991 and 2002 Iraq war permissions is about restoring oversight. He says letting those authorizations sit for more than 20 years gave presidents too much unchecked power.

“Congress has not repealed a war authorization since the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, so it’s been 50 years,” Kaine said.

Senator Kaine says Congress is finally closing a chapter it should have closed decades ago. One message is clear, he says Congress needs to clean up its own mess.

“One item that I’m particularly proud of is getting Congress to repeal the Iraq war authorizations from 1991 and 2002,” Kaine said.

Kaine says it’s long overdue. Those outdated permissions allowed presidents take military action without enough oversight.

Now Kaine wants to give recognition for those who served.

“It will be time to then say, this is a war that’s in the rearview mirror… and we should, thank all who served during the Iraq war,” Kaine said.

All of this as the White House continues military strikes off the coast of Venezuela. Kaine says Congress has to step in.

“The Constitution is clear. We shouldn’t be at war without a vote of Congress,” Kaine said.

The House is expected to vote this week, with the Senate taking it up next.

If passed, it would be the first time in 50 years Congress has repealed a war authorization.

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