Gillibrand, Democratic colleagues seek to end ‘reckless war’ in Iran

Press Release, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Photo courtesy of Gillibrand’s office: U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand speaks during a new conference in Washington on Monday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a press conference with several of her Senate Democratic colleagues on Monday to announce a new wave of War Powers Resolutions that can be used to force a vote to stop President Trump’s reckless and unconstitutional war in Iran, which is endangering American troops, jeopardizing national security, and raising costs for New York families.

Specifically, Gillibrand’s resolution directs the president to remove the U.S. armed forces from hostilities with or against Iran unless military force is explicitly authorized by Congress.

War Powers Resolutions are privileged, meaning they can be brought to the Senate floor for a vote by any senator ten days after they are filed. Gillibrand joins Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) in putting forth these new resolutions, which come in addition to those filed over the past several weeks by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

“President Trump chose to start a war knowing it was going to raise gas prices on Americans already struggling to get by,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The president, and his party, just don’t care about anyone other than themselves. They lie, cheat and steal to enrich themselves and leave regular folks with the bill. It is long past time for Republicans in Congress to stand up and do their job.”

 Senator Gillibrand has long advocated for ending unauthorized forever wars and reasserting Congress’ responsibility over the use of military force. In 2019, Gillibrand introduced the War Powers Reform Resolution, which would require the president to provide Congress with a clear objective for military action, as well as evidence that the use of the United States’ armed forces is necessary, appropriate, and proportional to the mission; a finite list of adversaries; and the names of the countries where the U.S. military will deploy.

Since President Trump began his reckless war of choice in Iran in February, Senator Gillibrand has repeatedly called for an end to the war and highlighted the harm it has done to the American people.

“As the administration’s reckless war of choice spirals further out of control and Americans face even greater costs here at home, the need for the Senate to do its job and stop this war is intensifying,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues in this effort to use every tool at our disposal to uphold our constitutional responsibility, check a power mad president who has plunged our nation and world into chaos, and stop this unconstitutional war.”