Kaine, Schiff to Force Vote Blocking Unauthorized Boat Strikes in Caribbean

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced a War Powers Act resolution that would block use of U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities against certain non-state organizations following multiple unauthorized military strikes on unverified alleged drug trafficking operations in the Southern Caribbean Sea.

"President Trump has no legal authority to launch strikes or use military force in the Caribbean or elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere. The Administration has refused to provide Congress with basic information about the multiple strikes it has carried out, including who was killed, why it was necessary to put servicemembers' lives at risk, and why a standard interdiction operation wasn't conducted," said Kaine. "Congress simply cannot let itself be stiff-armed as this Administration continues to flout the law. That's why we're introducing this legislation to require a debate and vote on whether the U.S. should be conducting these strikes without congressional approval."

"Congress alone holds the power to declare war. And while we share with the executive branch the imperative of preventing and deterring drugs from reaching our shores, blowing up boats without any legal justification risks dragging the United States into another war and provoking unjustified hostilities against our own citizens. Congress must be fully briefed on these operations and if the administration believes there is a case to make for a war authorization- it should make it. But this unauthorized and illegal use of our military must stop," said Schiff.

War powers resolutions are privileged, meaning that the Senate will be required to promptly consider and vote upon the resolution.

The resolution reaffirms that trafficking of illegal drugs does not itself constitute an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack that would justify military action, and that the designation of an entity as a foreign terrorist organization does not provide any legal authority to the President to use military force.

The resolution also emphasizes the importance of Congress retaining its power to declare war as President Trump has stated that "it is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that will be necessary."

Kaine and Schiff pushed the administration for answers on the September 2 strike along with 23 other Senators earlier this month. Schiff's original reaction to the strikes was shared on his social media channels earlier this month, highlighting the bipartisan opposition to the use of military action against drug traffickers including by then-Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

The resolution reiterates the lawmakers' commitment to providing the Executive Branch the resources necessary to prevent and mitigate drug and narcotics trafficking into the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly raised those alternatives to military action following the initial strike against vessels earlier this month.

Recent reporting has raised concerns that the vessel struck by the U.S. military earlier this month was not headed towards the United States, and the Department of Defense has cancelled briefings to Congress on the strikes in recent weeks.

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

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