Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes To Require President To Follow Constitution

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for H.Con.Res.38, a resolution to direct President Trump to terminate the use of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly makes a declaration of war or authorizes use of military force against Iran.

"The United States Constitution provides that Congress has the sole authority and solemn responsibility to declare war. President Trump, however, has consistently disregarded the Constitution, as has this Republican Congress.

"Today, the House considered a resolution to require the President to come to the Congress-to the representatives of the people-and to the people of the United States to make the case for war, as the Constitution requires. I voted for it. It failed. Instead, House Republicans voted it down, bending to the will of the President rather than doing the job they were sent to Washington to do.

"Following the largest U.S. military buildup in recent memory, the President acted unilaterally to engage in hostilities without any evidence of an imminent threat to the United States. The President and members of his administration are calling this a war. And yet, the representatives of the American people just voted against requiring the administration to seek permission from the people to continue this war of choice.

"At this point, this Republican Congress is not merely a do-nothing Congress; it is a do-harm Congress. It is doing harm to the Constitution, to the separation of powers, and to the principle that the government is one of, by, and for the people rather than a king."

H.Con.Res. 38 failed by a vote of 219-212.