Speaker Pelosi announced on Thursday that the House would vote to limit Trump’s war powers and his ability to start a war with Iran.
Pelosi said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:
Last week, the Trump Administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate military airstrike targeting high-level Iranian military officials. The Administration took this action without consulting Congress. This action endangered our servicemembers, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran. Since then, the President has made clear that he does not have a coherent strategy to keep the American people safe, achieve de-escalation with Iran and ensure stability in the region.
Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the Administration’s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward. Our concerns were not addressed by the President’s insufficient War Powers Act notification and by the Administration’s briefing today.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
Today, to honor our duty to keep the American people safe, the House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran. This resolution, which will be led by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, will go to the Rules Committee this evening and will be brought to the Floor tomorrow.
The House may also soon consider additional legislation on the Floor to keep America safe. This legislation includes Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s resolution to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and Congressman Ro Khanna’s legislation to prohibit funding for military action against Iran not authorized by Congress.
The Administration must work with the Congress to advance an immediate, effective de-escalatory strategy that prevents further violence. America and the world cannot afford war.
In his snorting and slurred remarks, the president seemed to believe that Iran is standing down, but this is likely not the case. The Iranian government may stand down from direct military action against the US, but their wide network of proxies are likely to strike US targets in the Middle East.
The war powers legislation would require Senate passage to become law, but Speaker Pelosi did mention one option that McConnell can’t kill. The House has the power to deny Trump funding for any offensive action against Iran.
There will be no rubber-stamping of a new Middle East war. Pelosi and House Democrats will hold Trump accountable for his reckless decisionmaking.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
