The U.S. House of Representatives will vote Thursday on a resolution to curb U.S. President Donald Trump’s ability to enact future U.S. military action against Iran without congressional approval, announced Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
The upcoming move comes in the aftermath of early-morning strikes on Wednesday by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) hitting the Ain Al-Asad and Irbil air bases in western Iraq, which also house U.S. soldiers. It came in retaliation for the U.S. killing of IRGC Quds Force Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad Airport on Jan. 3.
“Last week, the Trump administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate military airstrike targeting high-level Iranian military officials. The administration took this action without consulting Congress,” said Pelosi in a statement. “This action endangered our servicemembers, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran. Since then, the president has made clear that he does not have a coherent strategy to keep the American people safe, achieve de-escalation with Iran and ensure stability in the region.
“Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the administration’s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward,” she continued. “Our concerns were not addressed by the president’s insufficient War Powers Act notification and by the administration’s briefing today.”
Pelosi added that “the House may also soon consider additional legislation on the floor to keep America safe. This legislation includes Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s resolution to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and Congressman Ro Khanna’s legislation to prohibit funding for military action against Iran not authorized by Congress. The administration must work with the Congress to advance an immediate, effective de-escalatory strategy that prevents further violence.”
“America and the world,” she said, “cannot afford war.”
