2020: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Preventing The President From
Launching Military Attacks On Iran. In January 2020, Fitzpatrick voted
against Title II of a bill that would, according to Congressional
Quarterly, "repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force
Against Iraq, which authorizes the use of force to defend U.S. national
security against 'the continuing threat posed by Iraq and enforce
relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions." The vote was on a motion to
concur in the Senate. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of
236-166. [House Vote 34,
1/30/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/30/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.550]
Title II Of The Bill Repealed The Authorization For Use Of
Military Force (AUMF) That Has Been Used In Several Administrations
To Justify Military Actions. According to The Washington Post,
"The House approved two measures Thursday aimed at restraining
President Trump from targeting Iran militarily, as lawmakers clamor
to force his administration to consult Congress before taking
actions that could provoke a war [...] The second [proposal,
Title II], would repeal the authorization for use of military force
that Congress passed to facilitate the 2003 Iraq invasion but that
administrations have used since then to justify various hostilities
--- including Soleimani's killing." [Washington Post,
1/30/20]
The Trump Administration Offered Various Explanations For The
Unauthorized Killing Of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Which
Reminded Democrats Of The 2003 Invasion Of Iraq. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Since Soleimani's killing, the
administration including Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper have offered differing explanations
for why the Iranian general's killing was warranted and why prior
authorization or even consultation with Congress was unnecessary.
Those differing explanations remind many Democrats and a few
Republicans of the build-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq when the
George W. Bush administration falsely insisted that Iraqi dictator
Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction that threatened
the United States." [Congressional Quarterly,
1/30/20]
The Trump Administration Argued That Repealing The AUMF Would
Undermine "The President's Ability To Defend United States Forces
And Interests In The Region Against Ongoing Threats From Iran."
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The administration said
repealing the 2002 authorization would undermine U.S. troops
deployed to Iraq to combat Islamic State extremists even though a
separate expansive 2001 anti-terrorism military authorization,
passed after the attacks of 9/11, would remain in place. [Title
II] would undermine 'the president's ability to defend United
States forces and interests in the region against ongoing threats
from Iran and Iranian-sponsored proxies,' reads the statement of
administration policy." [Congressional Quarterly,
1/29/20]
Critics Opposed Repealing The AUMF Without A Replacement.
According to Politico, "Critics of the measures, including the White
House, have argued that they would hinder the ability of U.S. forces
to defend themselves from attacks --- Another point of contention,
particularly with [Title II], was that some opponents did not want
to repeal the 2002 authorization of force without replacing it with
a revised version." [Politico,
1/30/20]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Repeal The 2002 Authorization Of Military
Force. In July 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to the House
FY 2020 NDAA that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "repeal
the 2002 authorization of military force against Iraq." The vote was on
adoption. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 242-180. [House
Vote 464, 7/12/19;
Congressional Quarterly,
7/12/19; Congressional
Actions,
H.Amdt.555;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.2500]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Directing President Trump To Terminate
Military Hostilities Against Iran Unless Congress Were To Authorize The
Use Of Armed Forces. In March 2020, Fitzpatrick voted against a joint
resolution that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "direct the
president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces for hostilities
against Iran or any part of its government or military unless Congress
has declared war or provided specific statutory authorization for the
use of armed forces. It would clarify that nothing in the joint
resolution may be construed to prevent the president from using military
force to defend the U.S. against imminent attack. The joint
resolution's findings would include that the president has a
constitutional responsibility to defend U.S. citizens and possessions;
that 100 members of the U.S. armed forces sustained traumatic brain
injuries in an Iranian attack on the Ain al-Assad Air Base in Iraq; and
that members of the U.S. armed forces and intelligence community,
including the president, should be passed the bill by a vote of 227-186.
The resolution was vetoed by President Trump and the Senate failed to
override the veto. [House Vote 101,
3/11/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/11/20;
Congressional Actions, S.J. Res.
68]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Preventing The President From
Launching Military Attacks On Iran. In January 2020, Fitzpatrick voted
against Title I of a bill that would, according to Congressional
Quarterly, "prohibit the use of federal funds for any use of military
force in or against Iran unless Congress enacts a specific statutory
authorization or declares war, or to defend against an imminent armed
attack on U.S. territory or forces, consistent with the requirements of
the War Powers Resolution. It would also state that no previous
authorization for use of military force or other existing law may be
construed to authorize the use of military force against Iran." The vote
was on a motion to concur in the Senate. The House agreed to the motion
by a vote of 228-175. [House Vote 33,
1/30/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/30/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.550]
Title I Of The Bill Would Deny Funding For Military Action Against
Iran Without Congressional Approval. According to The Washington
Post, "The House approved two measures Thursday aimed at restraining
President Trump from targeting Iran militarily, as lawmakers clamor
to force his administration to consult Congress before taking
actions that could provoke a war [...] The first proposal, [Title
I], would prevent Trump from tapping federal funds for military
action against Iran without Congress's approval, except in cases of
self-defense or to prevent an imminent strike." [Washington Post,
1/30/20]
The Trump Administration Offered Various Explanations For The
Unauthorized Killing Of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Which
Reminded Democrats Of The 2003 Invasion Of Iraq. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Since Soleimani's killing, the
administration including Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper have offered differing explanations
for why the Iranian general's killing was warranted and why prior
authorization or even consultation with Congress was unnecessary.
Those differing explanations remind many Democrats and a few
Republicans of the build-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq when the
George W. Bush administration falsely insisted that Iraqi dictator
Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction that threatened
the United States." [Congressional Quarterly,
1/30/20]
Politico: Critics Argued That Title II Will Hurt The U.S.'s
Ability To Defend Itself From Attacks, Though The Measure
"Explicitly States That It Is Not Meant To Hinder The Military From
Defending Itself." According to Politico, "Critics of the
measures, including the White House, have argued that they would
hinder the ability of U.S. forces to defend themselves from attacks
--- though [Title 1] explicitly states that it is not meant to
hinder the military from defending itself and its allies."
[Politico,
1/30/20]
2020: Fitzpatrick Was Absent During A Vote On Curbing President Tr's
War Powers In Iran. In January 2020, Fitzpatrick missed a vote on a
concurrent resolution that would, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces to
engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government
or military unless Congress has declared war or provided specific
statutory authorization for the use of armed forces or unless the such
use is necessary and appropriate to defend against an imminent armed
attack upon the U.S., its territories or possessions, or its armed
forces, consistent with the requirements of the War Powers Resolution.
It would clarify that nothing contained in the concurrent resolution may
be construed to prevent the president from using military force against
Al Qaeda or associated forces." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the resolution by a vote of 231-180. [House Vote 7,
1//9/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/9/20; Congressional
Actions,
H.Con.Res.83]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Curbing President Trump's Power To
Authorize The Use Of Military Force Against Iran. In July 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to the House FY 2020 NDAA that would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "clarify that no previous
authorization for use of military force or other existing law authorizes
the use of military force against Iran and would prohibit the use of
federal funds for such purposes without congressional authorization or
declaration of war." The vote was on adoption. The House adopted the
amendment by a vote of 251-170. [House Vote 463,
7/12/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/12/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.554;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.2500]