House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Meeks, Jayapal Introduce Legislation to Block Trump from Attacking Cuba

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) are today introducing the Prevent an Unconstitutional War in Cuba Actto block President Trump from using any federal funding to use military force in or against the Republic of Cuba without Congressional authorization.

"Trump has started illegal regime change conflicts in Venezuela and Iran and is now threatening Cuba. These military attacks put our troops in danger, endanger innocent civilians, waste billions of taxpayer dollars, and are not what the American people want," said Jayapal. "Trump promised to end forever wars - he lied. Congress alone has the power to declare war, something Trump clearly does not respect. He has no plan to improve conditions for the Cuban people or promote democracy, and we must pass this legislation to block him from acting on a whim."

"Cuba is not for Donald Trump to take, and today we stand firm against the illegal use of the U.S. military to pursue turning Cuba into another playground for Trump's chaotic adventurism. Such a reckless course would risk American lives, cost taxpayers billions, and, in all likelihood, leave the underlying political and economic conditions unchanged. The United States cannot bomb Cuba out of economic collapse or political repression-lasting change must come through empowering the Cuban people, not doubling down on a failed approach that disproportionately harms them,"said Ranking Member Meeks.

President Trump and Secretary Rubio are doubling down on a decades-long, failed "maximum pressure" policy on Cuba that has inflicted disproportionate harm on the Cuban people while doing little to foster change on the island. The Trump administration is imposing an oil blockade that has led to the collapse of Cuba's already fragile energy infrastructure and is only exacerbating suffering on the island. In recent days, Trump stated, "I do believe I'll have the honor of taking Cuba."

This legislation would prevent Trump from using taxpayer dollars to introduce military force in Cuba without prior Congressional authorization or in response to an imminent threat or as self-defense.

The full text of the bill can be read here.

The legislation is also sponsored by Gabe Amo (RI-01), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Melanie A. Stansbury (NM-01), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).