The House votes to repeal 2002 military authorization for the Iraq War, with Biden's blessing

Barbara Lee, Joe Biden
(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The House on Thursday voted 268 to 161 to repeal the 2002 resolution authorizing former President George W. Bush to invade Iraq. The bill to revoke the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (UAMF) had bipartisan backing — 49 Republicans voted with all but one House Democrat to pass the measure, authored by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) — and the support of President Biden. Senate Majorit Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) endorsed the bill Wednesday and promised to hold a vote on it later this year.

The 2002 AUMF is seen as low-hanging fruit compared with repealing the 2001 authorization to attack the parties responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Still, when the House passed Lee's 2002 AUMF repeal measure after the Trump administration assassinated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, only 11 Republicans voted yes.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.