WATCH: Barrett Joins The Lead With Jake Tapper To Discuss His Legislation To Limit Conflict In Iran
Click here or the image above to watch the interview.
Washington, D.C. — Tonight, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) joined CNN’s Jake Tapper on The Lead to discuss Barrett’s recently introduced Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to limit and withdraw forces from the ongoing military operations in Iran.
Barrett introduced the legislation last week to provide congressional authorization for current military operations targeting Iran’s nuclear weapons program and its proxies. The AUMF would authorize military action through July 30 while prohibiting American boots on the ground and preventing the United States from entering another nation-building conflict in the Middle East.
During the interview, Barrett discussed the importance of Congress reclaiming its Article 1 authority to set clear objectives and make sure American forces do not engage in another endless war like the Global War on Terror Barrett served in.
Below are highlights and excerpts from the conversation.
Tapper: Why did you feel it was important to bring this resolution?
Barrett: I’ve been working on reforms to authorizations for use of military force since I really came to Congress. … This is an effort to reclaim Congress’ role in the authorization and use of force. Congress has sole authority to declare war. By extension of that authority, we have the right to decide how we are going to go about the use of force, and that's why I introduced this resolution.
It has clear parameters in place, it has a clearly defined mission, and it has a clearly defined end date. One of the things that frustrated me in my military service was that when we were engaged in these decades-long conflicts, there was no clearly defined mission, and no end date for that conflict to wind down.
This effort that I’ve introduced allows the president through the end of July to defeat or degrade significantly the Iranian ability to develop a nuclear weapon — but it very clearly does not allow for nation building, the use of ground troops except to do rescue missions and things of that sort — but it lays clear guardrails in place and has an end date in mind so that we can wind this conflict down.
Tapper: Do you think that there will be sufficient support among Republicans for your resolution to pass?
Barrett: You know, I certainly hope so. I introduced this in good faith because I want to bring the conversation to the head about what we need to do to reclaim that constitutional authority.
The War Powers Act, that goes back to the 1970s, is very clear — the president is given 60 days and delegated authority from Congress to act without congressional approval. After that point — which we just passed roughly a week and a half ago — the president needs to have authority from Congress to act.
Tapper: Because of this war [and rising gas prices], your constituents are hurting. …
Barrett: I certainly do see and feel the reality of what people are facing in my district when gas is $4.40 a gallon. As I left for the airport to come here today to Washington, D.C., I see that — I filled up my gas tank yesterday. I know what people in my district are looking at and seeing and feeling when gas is more expensive because of this adversarial effect of what the Iranians are doing.
But I also want to make sure that my kids, and hopefully someday my grandkids, have affordable energy and a nuclear-free Iran. Those two things don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Authorization for Use of Military Force.