House panel approves repeal of U.S. military powers enacted in wake of 9/11

June 29 (UPI) -- A House committee on Thursday passed an amendment to repeal broad war-making powers approved by Congress in the aftermath of 9/11 that have allowed the U.S. military to take various actions overseas in the years since.

The House Appropriations Committee, led by Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., passed the repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force. Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the measure when it was introduced in September 2001.

The amendment was passed as part of the defense spending bill for fiscal year 2018 that the panel passed on Thursday.

Some observers, including Lee herself, were a bit surprised the panel voted to approve her amendment.

"Whoa. My amendment to sunset 2001 AUMF was adopted in [Department of Defense] Appropriations markup!" Lee wrote to Twitter.

Lee previously tried, unsuccessfully, to get the military authorization repealed. In 2001, she said it gave former President George W. Bush "a blank check" to attack anyone related to the unprecedented U.S. terrorist attacks, anywhere, and without any time restriction.

If Lee's amendment to repeal AUMF is fully enacted, the military provision will expire after 240 days.

"GOP & Dems agree: a floor debate & vote on endless war is long overdue," Lee added.

Bush and former President Barack Obama both used AUMF on numerous occasions to order military action overseas -- including operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia, and the Philippines.