Congressman Cohen Votes to Restrain Trump’s Impetuous Use of War Power in Iran

WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today voted to require the President to seek Congressional authorization for starting the war against Iran. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to declare war, and President Trump did not seek Congressional approval before launching attacks in concert with Israel on Saturday.

The vote to rein in the President's war-making failed on a vote of 212 to 219.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"The Trump Administration is risking dragging us into another 'forever war' in the Middle East at a time when Americans are struggling to afford groceries, and gas prices are already rising. The Founding Fathers feared despots sending our sons and daughters into harm's way in their own interests and gave that responsibility to the peoples' representatives. President Trump told us during his State of the Union that he didn't need Congress to impose tariffs after the U.S. Supreme Court told him he does. Congress is a co-equal branch of government, and its powers must be respected. Only Congress can declare war."

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