Larson Votes to End Unauthorized Trump Military Operation Against Venezuela

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for H.Con.Res.68, a bipartisan war powers resolution he cosponsored with Reps. Jim McGovern (MA-02) and Thomas Massie (KY-04), to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Venezuela, following President Trump's unauthorized military operation.

"Our troops should not be sent abroad to fight another forever war so Donald Trump and his Big Oil benefactors can make a few quick bucks," said Larson. "When Dick Cheney said 'the oil will pay for it' about Iraq, a misguided war that I opposed, we saw how that turned out for America and the Middle East. I was proud to join my colleagues to hold this reckless administration accountable for their illegal military action against Venezuela - which President Trump has said is 'all about the oil.' Today's vote was a step in the right direction - Democrats were united, but too many Republicans sided with President Trump to reassert our war powers as a Congress. Americans have made it clear - they don't want their hard-earned dollars wasted on a never-ending conflict."

Earlier this month, Larson and Ways and Means Democrats wrote to oil executives, putting them on notice that if they collude with Trump to profit off of his "takeover" of Venezuela, they own the moral and legal consequences of that deal. Larson is also cosponsoring three other war powers resolutions, H.J.Res. 126, H.Con.Res. 51, and H.Con.Res. 61, in response to the Trump Administration's unilateral strikes targeting boats off the coast of Venezuela. In December, he voted for two resolutionsto end the unauthorized strikes and prevent hostilities against Venezuela prior to President Trump's operation.