To repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq.

Bill Number

H.R. 1488

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-21: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2026-02-04T04:26:27Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, H.R. 1488, seeks to repeal two longstanding U.S. laws that authorized military force against Iraq. Its primary goal is to end these specific congressional approvals for military actions, potentially limiting future U.S. military engagements in Iraq without new legislative authorization.

Key Provisions

• Repeal of 1991 Authorization: The bill eliminates the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1), enacted in 1991 to support military action against Iraq during the Gulf War.
• Repeal of 2002 Authorization: It also repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), which approved military action to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and address threats to U.S. security following the 9/11 attacks.
• The bill was introduced on February 21, 2025, by a bipartisan group of representatives and referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• These repeals would remove the legal basis for U.S. military operations specifically targeting Iraq under these resolutions, which have been cited in various post-2003 military activities.
• No new authorizations or exceptions are provided; the changes are straightforward terminations of the cited public laws, which are noted in U.S. Code (50 U.S.C. 1541 note).

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of Defense and executive branch agencies involved in Iraq operations may need to seek fresh congressional approval for any ongoing or future military actions, potentially altering operational planning and resource allocation.
• On Citizens: U.S. service members and their families could see reduced legal justifications for deployments to Iraq, possibly decreasing the risk of prolonged engagements and associated casualties or costs.
• On International Relations: This could signal a U.S. policy shift toward de-escalation with Iraq, affecting diplomatic ties, alliances in the Middle East, and cooperation on issues like counterterrorism, while potentially emboldening Iraq's sovereignty claims.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Congress: Gains stronger oversight of military actions by revoking prior authorizations, aligning with efforts to reassert legislative war powers.
• Executive Branch (President and Military): Loses broad authority granted by these resolutions, requiring new approvals for Iraq-specific operations.
• Iraqi Government and Citizens: May experience reduced U.S. military presence, influencing national security, reconstruction efforts, and bilateral relations.
• U.S. Veterans and Advocacy Groups: Those impacted by past Iraq conflicts could benefit from clearer limits on future involvement, affecting support programs and policy debates.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Ties into the War Powers Resolution (1973), which requires congressional approval for sustained military actions; repealing these authorizations reinforces Congress's constitutional role (Article I, Section 8) in declaring war and funding armies, potentially challenging executive interpretations of broad presidential powers.
• Constitutional: Highlights tensions between branches of government over war-making authority, promoting a return to stricter checks and balances without altering the broader 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (which targets al-Qaeda and affiliates, not specifically Iraq).
• Political: As a bipartisan effort in the 119th Congress, it reflects cross-party interest in ending "forever wars" and updating outdated laws, but passage could spark debates on national security and U.S. global commitments.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]

Cosponsors (36)

Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-21: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-02-21: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• To repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq. — issued 2025-02-21 — PDF (2 pages)