NEWS: Sen. Schiff Joins Kaine, Gallego to Introduce Cuba War Powers Resolution

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) to introduce a War Powers Resolution to block the use of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Cuba. President Donald Trump's use of the U.S. military to blockade Cuba has created a humanitarian crisis on the island and contributes to Cuba's significant resource shortages. He also continues to threaten direct military action, and recent reporting says that U.S. Southern Command has been ordered to draw up plans for potential military action.

"The repressive Cuban regime has suppressed its population and stifled the economic progress of its people for decades," said Senator Schiff. "Much as I wish the regime gone and a better future for the Cuban people, there is no indication that Cuba poses a significant national security threat to the United States. President Trump does not have the legal authority to invade or attack yet another sovereign nation without congressional approval or showing of imminent threat. Americans do not want any more costly wars of choice that skyrocket prices at home or to engage in nation-building abroad, yet we continue to use American armed forces to blockade the country and seem to be preparing for further military action. My colleagues and I, under Sen. Kaine's leadership, will keep pushing war power resolutions and to garner bipartisan support to make clear our opposition to the use of military force against Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, or any other nation that poses no imminent threat to the United States."

"The U.S. military is the best in the world, but our servicemembers shouldn't be sent into harm's way when there's no clear benefit to the United States," said Senator Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. "Americans want a Congress and a President focused on lowering costs. The last thing that our country needs right now is a regime change war in Cuba based on imaginary threats to the homeland that would devastate the Cuban people and generate a man-made migration crisis. As President Trump continues to threaten Cuba with direct military action, we will continue to give our Senate colleague every opportunity to stop the chaos."

"I was sent abroad with other working-class kids to fight a war that the elites manufactured to line their own pockets-and now I'm watching the same playbook being run on Cuba in plain sight," said Senator Gallego. "The President's poll numbers are sinking, so he's ginning up a reason to invade and looking for a quick win to feel tough. We must stand up now before we end up in another forever war."

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

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