Gallego Statement on Venezuela War Powers Resolution Vote

WASHINGTON - Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq, released the following statement after Republicans voted to block the Venezuela War Powers Resolution offered by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia:

"I fought in Iraq, and I know what happens when we rush into a war that doesn't need to happen. We cannot go down this path again.

"Whatever spin Republicans put on this, at the end of the day, what is happening in Venezuela is a war. When people are shooting, that is war. When the President deploys the power of the United States military, that is war.

"The Constitution is clear that only Congress has the power to declare war. Senate Republicans just had the chance to stand up for that responsibility, but they chose to give it away and enable Trump's chaos.

"When I talk to Arizonans, they tell me they want their politicians to create more good-paying jobs, help them afford a home, and bring down grocery prices. Instead of focusing on the real issues that affect American families, this administration wants to spend Arizonans' tax dollars to put 'boots on the ground' in Venezuela and run the country's economy for years. This will not benefit the American people, but Trump does not care. He has done this to line the pockets of Big Oil companies.

"There is no justification for dragging this country into a war in Venezuela. Today, the Senate failed to make that clear."

Senator Gallego has spoken out about Trump's dangerous, short-sighted military action, including speaking on the Senate floor to highlight the parallels between the administration's military actions in Venezuela and the lead up to the war in Iraq. He also introduced a War Powers Resolution in December to block further military action in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean.

1/14/26