Washington, DC -- Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued the following statement after House Republicans again voted against an Iran War Powers Resolution: 

“Republicans have once again turned their backs on their constituents and voted against Rep. Gottheimer’s War Powers Resolution, even as this war drives up costs for the American people with no end in sight. In doing so, they are faithfully mirroring President Trump’s own indifference to the crisis he created, made plain this week when he said, ‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation’ when negotiating with Iran.

“This war was illegal from day one. The administration has never credibly established that Iran posed any imminent threat justifying military action, and even if it had, the War Powers Act is unambiguous: without Congressional authorization, the president must draw down forces after 60 days. We are well past that deadline. There has been no progress on resolving any of our core objectives with Iran, fighting continues on both sides, and military blockades—which are themselves acts of war—remain in place.

“But the dam is breaking. Today’s tied vote signals that more Republicans are no longer willing to write this president a blank check for endless war. Next week, Democrats will again force a vote on a War Powers Resolution. To those who refuse to cede Congressional power and believe in the rule of law, join Democrats in calling for an end to this disastrous, open-ended war. Enough is enough.” 

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