Legislation Watch
2021
| Bill | Description | MD Reps Support |
|---|---|---|
| H.J.Res. 15 | War Powers Oversight: War Powers Resolution |
MD Cosponsors: Raskin |
| HR 255 | War Powers Oversight: 2001 AUMF Repeal |
MD: Cosponsors: Raskin, Sarbanes, Trone |
| HR 256 | War Powers Oversight: 2002 AUMF Repeal >> PASSED HOUSE |
MD Cosponsors: Brown, Mfume, Raskin, Ruppersberger, Trone, Sarbanes, |
| H.Res. 54 | Nuclear Nonproliferation: Extend New START Treaty Encourage Treaty on Open Skies |
— |
| HR 669 | Nuclear Weapons: No First Use |
MD Cosponsors: Raskin, Sarbanes |
| HR 1554 | Weapons: Restricting further development of Sea Launch Cruise Missiles |
— |
| H.J.Res. 15 | Saudi Attacks on Yemen: Restriction on US Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia |
MD Cosponsors: Trone |
| HR 2590 | Israel Attacks on Palestine: Restricting US Support of Israeli Violations Against Palestinians |
— |
A Closer Look at the NDAA
9/23/21: The house passed their version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2022. It super-sizes our military and nuke spending by about $35 billion over and above the high
mark of the Trump admin (and about $150 billion over Obama). Along with the vote was the chance to
also pass amendments that would have moderated this spending as well as made specific paths to peace
with other countries. These amendments did not pass with the exception of an important step towards
ending support of the Saudi siege and blockade of the people of Yemen. See how Maryland reps votes:
Explanation of the Amendments from the chart above:
>> “Stop New Nukes” – an amendment to forego hundreds of billions in new missiles (the Ground Based
Strategic Deterrent ICBMs) when top military experts have recommended a much less costly re-vamp of the
current system (Minuteman III).
>> Amendments 118-120 to cut Pentagon Spending. 118 would have limited the number of unfunded
priorities DOD officials can request on top of their original budget proposals. 119 and 120 would have
simply cut the NDAA dollar amount, with language to ensure that this doesn’t cut military and civilian
personnel pay and benefits.
>> Yemen – This amendment would end US support of the Saudi war on the people of Yemen, with some
exceptions that we will still need to fight to eliminate.
>> The Syria amendment reestablishes a minimal level of Congressional oversight of military operations
in Syria, namely that Congress must make a vote of approval before major military force is initiated.
>> Police Transfer – This amendment would have limit the 1033 weapons transfer program where US
military equipment is gifted to local, increasingly-militarized police departments.
>> Iron Dome – This is its own bill, separate from the NDAA but recently voted on. This provides
additional money on top of the already exorbitant amount that we provide each year to Israel’s military.
2020
Listed below are some bills that were important to us in 2020, showing how Maryland’s representatives
voted.
Iran: No U.S. Forces in Iran without Congressional Authorization – S,J.Res
68 – Passed 227-186 All 7 MD Democrats voted in favor, Harris (R) opposed. Peace Action position:
support.
Yemen: Withdraw U.S. Forces from the Saudi-led War in Yemen — S.J.Res.
7 — The House passed a resolution to end U.S. support of the Saudi coalition’s egregious, years-long
assault on Yemen. Passed 247-175. All MD Democrats voted in favor. Harris (R) opposed. Subsequently vetoed
by the President and failed to pass over veto. Peace Action Position: Support
Middle East Wars: Repeal 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) Against Iraq
Resolution through H.R.
550 — This amendment repeals the 2002 Iraq War AUMF, which has been used repeatedly since 2002 to
support militarism abroad, including the Trump Administration’s use of it to justify its actions against
Iran, including the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Passed 236-166. All MD Democrats
voted in favor. Harris (R) opposed. Peace Action Position: Support
Military Budget: 2020 Reconciled NDAA — On Agreeing to the Conference Report — S.
1790 — After passing two separate bills in the House and Senate, leadership spent months reconciling
the bills. The final version voted on stripped out all the progressive language that had passed in the
Democratic House and increased the bloated budget up to $738 billion. The House passed the bill 377-48. From
Maryland, only Rep. Raskin voted in opposition to this bill. Peace action position: oppose.
Israel/Palestine: H.Res.496
– Affirming that all Americans have the right to participate in boycotts in pursuit of civil and human
rights at home and abroad, as protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Not brought up for a
vote. PA position, support. 18 cosponsors. None from MD.
Nuclear Disarmament: NDAA Amendment — H.Amdt.
553 to H.R. 2500 — This amendment looks to re-establish “low-yield” nuclear missile funding. All MD
Democrats voted in opposition, Harris (R) in favor. Peace Action position: Oppose. Failed 201-221.
Korea: Calling for a formal end to the Korean War — H
Res 152. — The failure to come to a final peace settlement on the Korean peninsula has exerted
long-term negative pressures on human rights and humanitarian conditions; it is time to end that. This bill
has not come up for a vote. As of March 20, there were 42 cosponsors, of which one was from Maryland:
Representative Raskin. Peace Action position: Support.