Last week, both chambers of Congress rejected a War Powers Resolution stop the war in Iran. Legislators cast their votes along party lines. In the Senate, where the resolution failed 47 to 53, one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul (Kentucky), voted to end the war, while one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), voted against. In the House, the vote was closer. It failed 212-219, with two Republicans, Rep. Warren Davidson (Ohio) and Rep. Thomas Massie (Kentucky), voting to end the war, and four Democrats, Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Rep. Jared Golden (Maine), Rep. Greg Landsman (Ohio), and Rep. Juan Vargas (California), voting against. If those four Democrats had voted to end the war, the resolution would have passed 216-215.
We're close! Let's keep pushing for peace!
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Pass a War Powers Resolution to Stop Trump’s War on Iran!
It is unconstitutional for the President to take military action without the express declaration of war by Congress—or at least an authorization of the use of military force.
Congress has recourse when the President acts without permission. It can stop the war with a War Powers Resolution to remove the U.S. military from unauthorized hostilities.
Every elected representative swears an oath to “support and defend the Constitution.” Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution reserves the power to declare war to the Congress. The President’s job, as Commander in Chief, is to wage the wars Congress commits him to–not the other way around.
Congress has only declared war 11 times and not since the 1940s. In recent decades, Congress has approved resolutions that have the same effect, like the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that got us into Vietnam and the Authorization for the Use of Military Force after 9/11.
Congress has not declared war or authorized the use of military force in Iran.
U.S. soldiers and Iranian civilians are already dying, but it’s not too late for Congress to stop this, with a War Powers Resolution to remove the U.S. military from unauthorized hostilities. Congress can also refuse to fund President Donald Trump’s war on Iran.
TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Members of Congress to Vote for a War Powers Resolution to Stop Trump’s War on Iran!
Personal Information
*SAMPLE TEXT TO YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS*
You will be able to modify this text on the next page, after entering your information.
Dear [Member of Congress],
Please work to enforce Constitutional restraints on President Donald Trump’s use of U.S. armed forces.
You swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution.” Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution reserves the power to declare war to the Congress. The President’s job, as Commander in Chief, is to wage the wars Congress commits him to–not the other way around.
Congress has not declared war—or even authorized the use of military force—in Iran.
U.S. soldiers and Iranian civilians are already dying, but it’s not too late for Congress to stop this with a War Powers Resolution to remove the U.S. military from unauthorized hostilities.
You can also refuse to fund President Donald Trump’s war on Iran.
Peace is possible if Congress exercises its duty to support and defend the Constitution.
It is said that War Powers Resolutions are futile if there aren’t enough votes to override the President's veto, but the next step should be impeachment, where a simple majority is sufficient.
When a majority of Americans oppose military action, democracy requires Congress to stand firm for peace.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]