At 60-Day Mark of Iran War, Senate Republicans Block Attempt by Duckworth, Schiff, Colleagues to End Trump’s Illegal Iran War

At 60-Day Mark of Iran War, Senate Republicans Block Attempt by Duckworth, Schiff, Colleagues to End Trump's Illegal Iran War

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Senate Republicans?voted to block?a War Powers Resolution aimed at ending President Trump's illegal war in Iran offered by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Voting down Schiff's War Powers Resolution marked the sixth time Republicans blocked Democrats' efforts to end Donald Trump's costly, illegal war.

"While Trump's war of choice against Iran has been illegal since day one, Republicans have cowered behind their fake 60-day deadline to avoid doing their jobs-and it's infuriating that, even as their self-imposed deadline approaches, today they once again abandoned their oaths and Constitutional responsibility," said Duckworth. "For the sixth time now, my Republican colleagues instead chose to continue enabling this unhinged President as his unjustified war continues to cost taxpayers and our servicemembers. Trump has already burned a minimum of $25 billion in taxpayer money-likely far more-on a war the American people don't want and that sent gas and grocery prices soaring, left 14 servicemembers dead and hundreds more wounded. Our nation is not better off, safer or more secure, but Republicans continue proving they could not care less."

"Even if you accept the premise that Trump's war in Iran was responding to an imminent threat, which I certainly don't, under the War Powers Act he has no authority to continue this war past 60 days," said Schiff. "Today, I forced a vote to assert the War Powers Act, and end the war. While we had some bipartisan support for my resolution, it was not enough to pass. And so the war will drag on in violation of the law and constitution."

"For 60 days, prices on everything from gas to groceries have soared," said Schumer. "For 60 days, Trump has endangered the lives of our brave servicemembers. And for 60 days, Republicans have greenlit it all. And even now - on the day that Republicans admit is a turning point in Congressional authority over military hostilities - Senate Republicans refuse to stand up to Trump and his illegal war. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for the safety and prosperity of our country, and Republicans must join us."

"Some of my Republican colleagues have said that Congress should authorize military action after 60 days, yet they voted today against our Iran War Powers Resolution," said Kaine. "My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not only abdicating their most solemn constitutional responsibility to decide whether to send our nation's sons and daughters into war, but they are also backtracking on what they've told their own constituents who have zero interest in a costly and unnecessary war with no end in sight. We must end this war as soon as possible so we can turn our focus to domestic priorities like health care, housing, and education."

"President Trump's war of choice in Iran has taken the lives of 13 servicemembers, cost American taxpayers upwards of $25 billion, and is jacking up the cost of energy, fuel, and fertilizer for Wisconsin families and farmers," said Baldwin. "The American people do not support this war that has accomplished very little to keep us safe. It's our duty to stand up for our constituents, rein in this President, and stop this illegal war that the American people did not choose."

"As we head into the summer and the price of everything for American consumers gets higher and higher - their summer travel, their plane tickets, their clothing, their groceries - there is only one person to blame: Donald Trump," said Murphy. "And there is only one party to blame: the Republican Party, which could choose to join us and vote for one of these resolutions to end the war, to allow us to get back to a point where prices are coming down instead of spiraling upward. This is a choice that our Senate Republican colleagues make every week to vote for continuing this war and for continuing this disastrous price escalation on ordinary Americans."

"Each week, Democrats have come to the floor to demand hearings, transparency, and basic accountability," said Booker. "We have continued to force debate and votes in an effort to end this costly war. And each week, my Republican colleagues have refused to use their votes to provide checks and balances on this Administration in order to put the American people, who did not ask for this war, first. This reckless, unauthorized, and unconstitutional war places service members and diplomats abroad at continued risk, threatens our national security, and drives up costs for families already struggling to make ends meet across our nation. While American families continue to pay the price, Secretary Hegseth remains unable or refuses to communicate any coherent plan, timeline, or strategy. Instead, despite already spending nearly $2 billion a day on this war, he is requesting even more funding while leaving Congress in the dark. So here we are again, for a sixth time demanding that this body remember its Constitutional duties. The Constitution grants Congress-and Congress alone-the authority to declare war and authorize the use of military force, and it has done neither. Democrats will continue to fight to end this war and ensure Congress fulfills its responsibility."

Schiff's War Powers Resolution was also co-led by U.S. Senators Andy Kim?(D-NJ),?Jeff?Merkley (D-OR),?Chris?Van Hollen?(D-MD)?and?Kirsten?Gillibrand?(D-NY).

This is the sixth time Democrats have forced a vote to end Trump's illegal war, and Republicans have instead voted to rubberstamp it:

1. On March 4^th, Republicans blocked Kaine's resolution 47-53.
2. On March 18^th, Republicans blocked Booker's resolution 47-53.
3. On March 24^th, Republicans blocked Murphy's resolution 47-53.
4. On April 15^th, Republicans blocked Duckworth's resolution 47-52.
5. On April 22^nd, Republicans blocked Baldwin's resolution 46-51.

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