Statement of Gold Star Mother on Passage of Lee Bill to Repeal 2002 Iraq AUMF
Washington, DC — Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation by Rep. Barbara Lee to repeal the 2002 authorization for use of military force, against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. In response to the vote, Karen Meredith, who lost her son Ken Ballard in Iraq, released the following:
“I lost my son, Ken, in the war that the 2002 authorization launched. Too many moms, too many dads, spouses, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters have lost their loved ones under this authorization, which has been applied wrongly since the end of the Iraq war, with no debate from Congress. It is time to repeal it. It is time for Congress to stand up and not allow this authorization, which now has no legitimate purpose, to continue forever wars that rob us of our best and brightest Americans. I thank Representative Lee and the House for taking the first step, and I urge the Senate and Donald Trump to take quick action to move it along.”