WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) war powers resolution that would have blocked President Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran unless authorized by Congress.
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Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states that the power to declare war is an explicit power of Congress and Congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed this constitutional provision when it passed the War Powers Act in 1973 over the veto of President Nixon. Earlier today, Durbin spoke on the Senate floor and condemned the President’s shifting rationales for launching military strikes on Iran five days ago. Durbin was one of 23 Senators who voted against the war in Iraq.
“Before we ask Americans to put their sons and daughters at risk in a war, we should have a fulsome debate on the Senate floor. The Constitution clearly states that the power to declare war is up to Congress. If we give it up, then we’re turning our back on the Constitution and our responsibilities to the American people.”
