Baldwin, Colleagues Force Vote on Trump’s Illegal War in Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) forced the Senate to vote on the Trump Administration's ongoing unconstitutional war in Iran. The vote on one of their War Powers Resolutions comes after Baldwin and her colleagues stated that they would use these resolutions to force debate and additional votes if Republican leadership did not move swiftly to arrange public committee hearings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Senator Baldwin voted to stop the illegal war, but Senate Republicans stood with President Trump and defeated the effort.

"Donald Trump is breaking laws and breaking his promises to the American people. Instead of an affordable country at peace, costs are up and we are careening into another open-ended war. This war is just not what the American people signed up for - and it's our job to stop it," said Senator Baldwin. "Americans need some answers to why we are in this war, how we are getting out, and why President Trump is focused on a war thousands of miles away instead of addressing the high cost of living. Until we get those public hearings, expect more of these votes and more attention on this war of choice."

It has been nearly three weeks since President Trump chose to launch his war with Iran that has resulted in the death of at least thirteen and injury of more than 200 U.S. servicemembers. Yet, Leader Thune has yet to announce or hold a single public hearing to receive testimony from the Secretaries of State or Defense under oath. Since the war began, Senators Baldwin, Kaine, Booker, Murphy, Schiff, and Duckworth all introduced War Powers Resolutions, which demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The resolutions are privileged, meaning they can be brought to the Senate floor for a vote by any senator after ten calendar days of filing.

Today, Senator Baldwin and her colleagues also hosted a conversation with a group of veterans, service members, and military families about the impact of President Trump's illegal war in Iran.

Immediately following the initial strikes on Iran, Senator Baldwin released a statement condemning this unauthorized military action and demanding that President Trump come to Congress before launching the United States into another potentially open-ended war. Earlier this month, Senator Baldwin also took to the Senate floor in support of a War Powers Resolution to rein in this President. Additionally, Senator Baldwin co-sponsors the No War Against Iran Act to prohibit the use of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran without specific Congressional authorization.

Watch Senator Baldwin's remarks on the Senate floor here.

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