Kaptur, Bipartisan Coalition Vote to End President Trump’s Costly War of Choice in Iran
Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and a bipartisan coalition forced a vote on the House Floor to end President Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice in Iran. For over 90 days, the Trump Administration has waged an unconstitutional war of choice in Iran without a clear strategy, defined objectives, or Congressional authorization. The war has caused great hardship on Americans who face skyrocketing prices on oil, gas, diesel, fertilizer and everyday goods at home.
“Today after months of dawdling and delay, we finally got a vote in the House and passed bipartisan legislation to bring an end to the President's war of choice in Iran,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “President Trump promised lower costs and an end to costly foreign wars, but he has done the exact opposite. While American families struggle with soaring costs, the Trump Administration has spent tens if not hundreds of Billions of taxpayer dollars on a war of choice that has fueled higher gas prices, increased economic uncertainty, and put American servicemembers in harm's way. For nearly a year, GOP leaders have blocked every effort to bring a vote on unauthorized missile strikes and the full out war on Iran that has ensued. Finally, today, a bipartisan coalition passed a long delayed vote. Now that the House and Senate have spoken, it is time the President hear the American people and Congress and end this foreign war of choice and get the focus of Washington returned to making life more affordable for the American people."
President Trump’s open-ended, undefined military engagement is precisely what the War Powers Resolution was designed to restrain. This War Powers Resolution directs the President to remove US forces from hostilities against Iran without a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force (AUMF). It exempts those military elements necessary to defend the US or an ally from imminent attack. Today’s vote reaffirms the Constitutional principle that only Congress can declare war.
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