US House Passes Resolution to Limit Trump's War Powers against Iran
The Democratic-held chamber approved it by a 224-194 vote. Three Republicans and an independent voted for it, while eight Democrats opposed it.
Democrats, worried about conflict following the US assassination of Iran’s top commander General Qasem Soleimani last week, passed a measure to give Congress more oversight of White House military action against Tehran. The measure calls for Trump to stop military force against Iran within 30 days if he does not have congressional approval.
The vote to rein in Trump’s latitude to clash with Iran continues a recent push by Democrats and some Republicans in Congress to reassert the legislature’s authority to declare war. The measure introduced by Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., is a concurrent resolution — meaning the president cannot veto it and it does not carry the force of law.
Even so, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Thursday that it has “real teeth” to check the president. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has put forward a similar resolution, which may not pass the Republican-held Senate.
“We must keep the American people safe,” Pelosi said on the House floor ahead of the vote. “The House will pass a war powers resolution to limit the president’s military actions regarding Iran. Congress is reassuring our long-established oversight responsibilities as we mandate that if no further congressional action is taken, the administration’s military hostilities with regard to Iran must end.”
The vote comes only two days after Iran fired ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing US forces. The US reported no casualties in the attacks. Trump said Wednesday that Iran “appears to be standing down,” adding that the US “will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions” on the state.
On Thursday morning, Trump urged all House Republicans to vote against the war powers resolution. Right as the vote started, he tweeted again, saying he agrees with former national security advisor John Bolton’s contention that the 1973 War Powers Resolution “should be repealed.” The law aimed to give Congress more power to check the president’s ability to take military action.
Following a Trump administration briefing on the operation to assassinate General Soleimani on Wednesday, Pelosi and other Democrats argued the White House did not have a coherent strategy in Iran. While nearly all Republicans have backed the assassination, a few GOP lawmakers criticized the administration after the briefing.
Republicans who opposed the war powers resolution Thursday contended it would hamstring Trump if the US needed to quickly respond to hostilities.
