Democrats to force vote on Iran war powers resolution
democratic leaders in the House plan to force a full vote on the Khanna–Massie War powers resolution, which would require the president to obtain congressional authorization before using military force against Iran. The move seeks to rein in potential U.S. military action as negotiations with Iran continue amid heightened tensions and a buildup of U.S. forces in the Middle East. Introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep.Ro Khanna (D-CA), the measure argues that Congress has the constitutional power to declare war and should not allow unilateral presidential action. While many Democrats back bringing the resolution to a floor vote, there is bipartisan pushback: some Republicans and Democrats say they will oppose it or insist on additional briefings and oversight before any action. the article frames the push as part of a broader debate over diplomacy versus military intervention; Trump has signaled that military options remain on the table if Iran’s nuclear negotiations fail, though officials emphasize diplomacy as the preferred path.
Democrats to force vote on Iran war powers resolution to rein in Trump
House Democratic leadership will force a vote on legislation to rein in President Donald Trump’s use of military force against Iran, as his administration undergoes negotiations with the Middle Eastern country.
Democratic leadership’s push to vote on the war powers resolution to check the president comes as the United States is building up the largest force of warships and aircraft in the Middle East, and Trump warned that military action against Iran is possible if talks over its nuclear program collapse.
“As soon as Congress reconvenes next week, we will compel a vote of the full House of Representatives on the bipartisan Khanna-Massie War Powers resolution,” Democratic leadership wrote in a joint statement. “This legislation would require the president to come to Congress to make the case for using military force against Iran.”
“The Iranian regime is brutal and destabilizing, seen most recently in the killing of thousands of protestors,” they continued. “However, undertaking a war of choice in the Middle East, without a full understanding of all the attendant risks to our servicemembers and to escalation, is reckless. We maintain that any such action would be unconstitutional without consultation with and authorization from Congress.”
The resolution was introduced by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) earlier this year, and specified that the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, as Democrats have been calling for a de-escalation in the Middle East.
During Trump’s State of the Union address, he reiterated his “preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy” with Iran but affirmed that he will “never allow the world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon.”
“We are in negotiations with them,” Trump said Tuesday. “They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon.’”
While Democratic leadership has put its weight behind this push, there is already some bipartisan pushback.
Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) announced last week that they will oppose the resolution when it comes to the floor.
“We stand with the Iranian people who are demanding basic rights and dignity, and we are committed to protecting them from the regime’s savagery,” the two wrote in a statement.
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“Congress should be briefed on any planned military action in compliance with the War Powers Act,” they later added. “It is also essential that the appropriate committees are fully and promptly briefed. Congress must not limit our ability to protect Americans and our allies.”
House GOP leadership narrowly avoided a war powers resolution on Venezuela from passing earlier this year in a 215 to 215 vote.
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