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May 23, 2011 Press Release
Former Attorney General Mukasey, who is also a former U.S. district court judge, said that the new language “would not confer new powers, but rather would add order and rationality to what has been an improvisational exercise by judges who do not have the fact finding resources of Congress, or the accountability that comes from being responsible for national security.
May 20, 2011 Letter

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The legislation you have proposed to update and clarify the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), passed in September 2001 in the wake of the attacks on the United States that occurred that month, is both timely and constructive.

May 20, 2011 Letter

President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As the United States military's involvement in Libya approaches 60 days without congressional authorization, I must reiterate concerns expressed at the outset of this operation regarding our strategic objectives, the length of America's commitment, the funding mechanism for this operation, and the potential effect of this operation on other more vital interests.

May 18, 2011 Defense Drumbeat

Washington, D.C. (Permalink) -  Two major newspaper editorial boards and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution have decried accusations that a provision in the National Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 would expand the war on terrorism.

May 11, 2011 Press Release

Washington, D.C. —The House Armed Services Committee tonight approved the comprehensive National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, legislation which provides $690 billion for the Department of Defense and the national security activities within the Department of Energy for the next fiscal year. The legislation would authorize $553 billion for the Department of Defense’s base

May 11, 2011 Legislative Action Blog

Washington D.C. – The House Armed Services Committee voted on Wednesday to require the four military service chiefs to certify that repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) law will not negatively impact combat readiness and effectiveness.  The amendment, offered by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), was approved by a vote of 33-27.

May 11, 2011 Legislative Action Blog

Washington, D.C.—Today the House Armed Services Committee overwhelmingly passed an amendment offered by Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.) that compels the Defense Department to allow General Electric and Rolls Royce to use testing facilities for their Joint Strike Fighter competitive engine program at zero cost to American taxpayers.

May 10, 2011 Legislative Action Blog

Washington, D.C. — When the Armed Services Committee meets tomorrow to consider the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012, members will have an opportunity to support competition at zero cost to taxpayers. Under a new proposal set out by a GE-Rolls Royce team, the original Defense Department plan for two competing engines for the Joint Strike Fighter would be preserved through Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012 with no financial obligation from the Pentagon.

May 10, 2011 Legislative Action Blog
Washington, D.C.---Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) yesterday would affirm in law the arguments that the Obama Administration has used since March 2009 to defend its terrorist detention policies in federal court. The provision, included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, would affirm that the United States is engaged in an armed conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban and associated forces pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force from 2001. Further, it would affirm that the President’s authority pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) includes the authority to detain certain belligerents until the termination of hostilities. McKeon’s efforts are necessary because of the Administration’s reliance on the original AUMF, which was enacted nearly ten years ago, as its justification to detain individuals captured in the ongoing war against terrorists. This was a change from the Bush Administration which largely relied on its inherent executive authority to detain and try enemy combatants....
May 10, 2011 Legislative Action Blog

Washington, D.C.---The version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which was introduced by Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P.

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