Reclaim Congress’s War Powers—No More Blank Checks for War
Reclaim Congress’s War Powers—No More Blank Checks for War
The Issue
I was a teenager when the U.S. went to war in Iraq. I didn’t understand all the politics, but I remember the headlines. The speeches. The confidence. I believed our leaders had thought it through. That Congress had made the decision. That we had a voice.
Years later, I learned the truth: Congress had voted to hand the president sweeping authority to go to war—not just in Iraq, but in ways that would echo for decades. No real debate. No clear limits. Just power, passed along and forgotten.
I watched friends enlist. Some came back different. Some didn’t come back at all. And it left me wondering: If Congress doesn’t speak for the people before sending Americans into conflict, who does?
Now, we’re seeing the same dangerous pattern repeat. Presidents—both Republican and Democrat—have used outdated laws from 2001 and 2002 to justify military actions that were never intended under those authorizations. What started as a focused mission to respond to 9/11 has been stretched into a blank check for war anywhere, at any time.
These two laws—the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs)—have been used more than 40 times in at least 22 countries. Some of those missions targeted groups that didn’t even exist when the laws were passed. That’s not caution. That’s unchecked power.
Congress could act. But too often, they don’t. They hesitate. They defer. Or they stay silent altogether. And in that silence, our democracy weakens.
It’s time for that to end.
We’re calling on Congress to:
Stop unauthorized military action
Repeal the outdated 2001 and 2002 AUMFs
Pass strong, bipartisan reforms to the War Powers Resolution
This isn’t about left or right—it’s about accountability. It’s about restoring the checks and balances that our Constitution demands, especially when it comes to matters of war and peace.
I’m not a policy expert. I’m not running for office. I’m just someone who still believes in the idea that the people should have a voice before our nation goes to war. If you believe that, too, I hope you’ll stand with me.
Add your name. Share this petition. Let’s remind Congress: they work for us—and we want our power back.
37
The Issue
I was a teenager when the U.S. went to war in Iraq. I didn’t understand all the politics, but I remember the headlines. The speeches. The confidence. I believed our leaders had thought it through. That Congress had made the decision. That we had a voice.
Years later, I learned the truth: Congress had voted to hand the president sweeping authority to go to war—not just in Iraq, but in ways that would echo for decades. No real debate. No clear limits. Just power, passed along and forgotten.
I watched friends enlist. Some came back different. Some didn’t come back at all. And it left me wondering: If Congress doesn’t speak for the people before sending Americans into conflict, who does?
Now, we’re seeing the same dangerous pattern repeat. Presidents—both Republican and Democrat—have used outdated laws from 2001 and 2002 to justify military actions that were never intended under those authorizations. What started as a focused mission to respond to 9/11 has been stretched into a blank check for war anywhere, at any time.
These two laws—the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs)—have been used more than 40 times in at least 22 countries. Some of those missions targeted groups that didn’t even exist when the laws were passed. That’s not caution. That’s unchecked power.
Congress could act. But too often, they don’t. They hesitate. They defer. Or they stay silent altogether. And in that silence, our democracy weakens.
It’s time for that to end.
We’re calling on Congress to:
Stop unauthorized military action
Repeal the outdated 2001 and 2002 AUMFs
Pass strong, bipartisan reforms to the War Powers Resolution
This isn’t about left or right—it’s about accountability. It’s about restoring the checks and balances that our Constitution demands, especially when it comes to matters of war and peace.
I’m not a policy expert. I’m not running for office. I’m just someone who still believes in the idea that the people should have a voice before our nation goes to war. If you believe that, too, I hope you’ll stand with me.
Add your name. Share this petition. Let’s remind Congress: they work for us—and we want our power back.
37
The Decision Makers
Petition created on June 18, 2025