Sept. 16 (UPI) — House lawmakers have again passed a Democrat-sponsored war powers resolution to curb President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran with the aid of a handful of Republicans.
Seven GOP lawmakers crossed the aisle late Tuesday to pass the resolution in a 220-204 vote, an increase from four Republicans who voted to pass the previous two resolutions in June and July.
Though the Trump administration has dismissed such resolutions as legally unenforceable, the vote comes amid growing public criticism of the war that President Donald Trump launched without congressional approval in late February and mounting political pressure as the conflict appears to have no end in sight.
“The American people have made it clear that they do not support this war, and the Constitution does not grant Trump the authority to wage it without the consent of the people and their representatives,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement following the vote.
The resolution directs Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress.
The House has passed two previous war powers resolutions concerning the war with Iran. The first, in June, was also passed by the Senate, but the Trump administration rejected it, saying concurrent resolutions “lack the force of law and should be deemed unconstitutional.”
Senate Democrats on Tuesday announced that the Senate has agreed to vote second House-passed resolution no later than Oct. 2.
Tuesday’s resolution was sponsored by Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and cosponsored by 14 Democrats to “reclaim Congress’ ability to end Donald Trump’s war with Iran,” Moulton’s office said in a statement.
“Tonight, Congress did its job under the Constitution and said enough is enough,” Moulton said.
“People at home are hurting because of skyrocketing costs, and our troops’ lives are in danger in a war that never should have happened. We will keep the pressure up until Trump folds.”
The six-month war has cost the lives of at least 18 American service members. Hundreds have also been injured in the conflict, which the Congressional Budget Office earlier Tuesday said has cost the Pentagon $38 billion and would cost an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion a month going forward depending on the severity of the fighting.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is among the most vocal Republicans against the war and voted in favor of all three House-passed war resolutions. On Tuesday, he also introduced legislation to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of breaking the law by waging war with Iran for more than 90 days without congressional approval.
“If we are to remain true to our oath to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States,’ Congress must not turn a blind eye to Secretary Hegseth’s unconstitutional and illegal actions,” Massie said in a statement.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.