Rep. Sewell Votes for Iran War Powers Resolution

Washington D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.Con.Res.38, to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces for unauthorized hostilities against Iran:

"Only Congress has the power to declare war. President Trump made the decision to send American service members into harm's way without providing any evidence of a credible imminent threat to the United States, without consulting the people's representatives in Congress, and without a plan to ensure America is not drawn into another prolonged conflict in the Middle East.

"While the regime in Iran has oppressed their people and supported terrorism in the region for decades, the President must still come before Congress and the American people with clear justifications for the use of military force at this scale.

"My constituents continue to suffer from rising prices created by President Trump's trade wars. They want this Administration to take action to address the affordability crisis here at home. They do not want their tax dollars to fund another war in the Middle East."

Background

H.Con.Res.38 simply requires the cessation in offensive hostilities. The resolution would not prevent our servicemembers from engaging in defensive military actions to protect our allies and our bases in the region.

Months after President Trump declared that Iran's nuclear infrastructure had been "completely and totally obliterated," his administration has failed to identify an imminent threat that prompted the initiation of war on February 28. Further, explanations from Trump and his administration continue to shift, sometimes by the hour and minute. Not only did President Trump confirm that the current U.S. military campaign against Iran would continue for several weeks, he also signaled that he is open to American military boots on the ground in Iran.

Americans oppose the war with Iran because of the potential for this conflict to become yet another forever war paid for with taxpayer dollars and in American lives.