Elfreth Votes in Favor of Iran War Powers Resolution

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted in favor of H. Con. Res. 38, the Iran War Powers Resolution, and released the following statement.

"Six U.S. servicemembers have already lost their lives in this conflict. Untold billions of dollars have already been spent. And since the initial strikes Saturday morning, the President and top Administration officials have given the American people mixed - at times contrary - rationales, no indication of an imminent threat, and no clear plan forward. All of this has occurred without a single vote from the nation's duly elected representative body.

"After briefings from top Administration officials, I am left with no more confidence in the President's plans in the Middle East. Like many in my generation, the United States has been at endless war in the Middle East for virtually my entire life. We know these conflicts have real consequences for our servicemembers, their families, and the American people. I hold deep reservations about committing more American troops and spending more American taxpayer dollars on an undefined conflict in Iran.

"Two things can be true: Ayatollah Khamenei was a brutal dictator who oversaw rampant human rights abuses, including the recent en masse killing of protestors, and his removal through military action alone, with absolutely no clear strategy, will not guarantee the safety of the United States or the freedom of the innocent Iranian people.

"Article I makes clear that Congress - not the President - has the clear authority to authorize strikes against enemies and declare war. Reasserting this authority should not be a partisan issue. For all of these reasons, I voted yes on the bipartisan War Powers Resolution and will continue to use my role on the House Armed Services Committee to press for more answers and transparency from this Administration."

H. Con. Res. 38, introduced by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) and Khanna (D-CA-17), would direct the President to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force has been enacted. Elfreth originally released a statement Saturday morning after news first broke that the U.S. and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran.

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