House Democrats are gearing up for another battle in their ongoing effort to end President Trump’s war with Iran. On Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced that they will soon launch a new resolution to put an end to this reckless conflict.
“What we’re focused on now is stopping this reckless war of choice,” Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. This comes after Democrats brought one war powers resolution to the floor earlier this month, which was sponsored by Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).
The resolution passed the House with a vote of 224-194, with three Republicans joining Democrats in support. However, it was ultimately blocked by Senate Republicans, who hold the majority.
But Democrats are not backing down. With tensions between the U.S. and Iran reaching an all-time high after the killing of top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, they are determined to use all the tools at their disposal to prevent further escalation.
The new resolution, sponsored by Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), would limit the president’s ability to engage in war with Iran without congressional approval. It aims to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that gave the president the authority to go to war with Iraq, and could potentially be used as justification for military action against Iran.
Democrats argue that the AUMF is outdated and no longer applicable to the current situation with Iran. They also believe that Congress needs to reassert its constitutional authority to declare war.
“This is not about being for or against the president, this is about being for or against the Constitution,” Khanna said. “We cannot allow this president, or any president, to wage war without congressional approval.”
Their efforts have been met with resistance from Republicans, who accuse Democrats of trying to tie the president’s hands and jeopardize national security. But Democrats argue that their resolution is not about limiting the president’s ability to protect the country, but rather ensuring that any decision to go to war is made with the proper authorization and oversight.
“This is not a partisan issue, this is about doing what is right for our country and our democracy,” said Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who chairs the House Intelligence Committee. “We have seen the consequences of rushing into war without congressional approval, and we cannot allow that to happen again.”
Democrats have also expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and communication from the Trump administration regarding the situation with Iran. They have called for a full briefing from the administration on the intelligence that led to the strike against Soleimani and the plan moving forward.
“The American people deserve to know the truth about why we are on the brink of war with Iran,” said Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.). “We cannot let this administration drag us into another endless and costly war.”
The new resolution is expected to be brought to the House floor for a vote next week. While it is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, Democrats hope that it will send a strong message to the Trump administration and the American people that they are committed to preventing an unnecessary and potentially devastating war with Iran.
“We have a responsibility to the American people and to our men and women in uniform to ensure that we exhaust all diplomatic and peaceful options before resorting to military action,” said Jeffries. “That is what this resolution is about, and we will continue to fight for it until it becomes a reality.”
