Washington, United States. U.S. Senate lawmakers were set to begin voting on Wednesday on a bipartisan war powers resolution seeking to stop the military campaign against Iran and require congressional authorization for any hostilities.
Resolution seeks to assert Congress’ war powers
Sponsors described the measure as an effort by Democrats and a few Republicans to rein in President Donald Trump’s repeated troop deployments and to reclaim Congress’ responsibility to declare war under the U.S. Constitution. Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives and have blocked previous efforts to curb Trump’s war powers.
Schumer urges support ahead of procedural vote
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, a co-sponsor, said the administration planned to expand the military campaign. “The last thing the American people want or need is another war in the Middle East,” Schumer said, urging support for the resolution in a Senate speech a few hours before a procedural vote.
Poll shows limited public approval of strikes
With control of Congress potentially shifting to Democrats in November’s midterm elections, a prolonged Iran war could concern voters. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday found that one in four Americans approved of U.S. strikes on Iran, and about half said Trump was too willing to use military force.
Republican criticism and scope of conflict
Republicans accused Democrats of politicizing national security and said Trump was acting within his legal powers as commander in chief by ordering limited operations, rather than full-scale wars. The U.S.-Israel war on Iran was described as more extensive, causing damage in Iran, Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East, and resulting in the first U.S. casualties.
Senator Todd Young opposes the measure
Senator Todd Young of Indiana, one of five Republicans who joined Democrats to advance a Venezuela war powers resolution in January, issued a statement on Wednesday opposing the Iran resolution. Young said Iran posed a core threat to U.S. national security and said he opposed anything that would limit Trump’s military options, while calling for congressional hearings and public discussion to keep Americans informed.
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