Senate to Vote Tomorrow on Kaine, Paul, and Schiff’s Bipartisan Legislation to Stop Unauthorized War Against Venezuela

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced the Senate will vote tomorrow on their bipartisan war powers resolution that would block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela, unless that action has been authorized by Congress. This follows reporting that the Trump Administration is considering land strikes inside the country.

"There is no authorization for the use of military force that gives President Trump the authority to launch military strikes in Venezuela. And instead of working with Congress, the Trump Administration has left us in the dark about the ongoing operations and large-scale buildup of military assets in the region. It has not shared any information with the American people about what the fallout could be from this potential conflict," said Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. "We shouldn't be sending our sons and daughters into harms' way with incomplete information, and without a robust debate in front of the American people. When the Senate votes on our bipartisan legislation to stop the Trump Administration from waging an unauthorized war against Venezuela, I urge my colleagues to join us in reclaiming our constitutional obligation and saying no to war without a vote from Congress."

"The Coast Guard doesn't blow up boats off Miami because 25 percent of the time their suspicion is wrong. Venezuela is no different. These are small outboards with no fentanyl and no path to Florida. To kill indiscriminately is akin to summary execution! Everyone should get a trial because sometimes the system gets it wrong. Even the worst of the worst in our country get due process. The bottom line is that execution without process is not justice, and blowing up foreign ships is a recipe for chaos," said Dr. Paul.

"The Trump administration has made it clear that they may launch military action against land targets inside Venezuela's borders, escalating from the boat strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific. In recent weeks we have seen increasingly concerning movement of military assets and reporting that undermines any claim that this is merely about stopping drug smugglers. Congress has not authorized military force against Venezuela. Tomorrow, on a bipartisan basis, we will force a vote to block an unauthorized war against Venezuela. We must assert our Constitutional authority over the use of force before the United States becomes entangled in yet another conflict, this time in South America," said Schiff.

Kaine and Schiff introduced a similar measure focused on repeated strikes in the southern Caribbean Sea that the Trump Administration has carried out without congressional authorization, killing dozens of unknown individuals. The legislation did not gain enough Republican support to pass.

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