Durbin Votes For War Powers Resolution Requiring Congressional Authority For Further U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate advanced a bipartisan war powers resolution to block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. The resolution advanced in the Senate by a vote of 52-47.
“Nicolás Maduro repeatedly denied the will of the Venezuelan people, including when two thirds of them voted for an end to decades of cruelty and political and economic ruin. The decision to remove him does not cause tears in my household and I’m glad he is not in power today.
“However, I learned during my time in Congress that it is far easier to start a war than it is to end one. The U.S. Constitution explicitly says that the power to declare war resides with Congress. The Trump Administration is engaging us in a long-term conflict that could cost us dearly—and they have yet to engage the American people in the discussion and rationale of our ultimate goals in the region.Until we have clarity, we cannot allow this conflict to escalate at the expense of American lives. I applaud my five Republican colleagues for joining every Senate Democrat toadvance this resolution.”
The resolution was led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rand Paul (R-KY), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA). 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 theWar Powers Actin 1973 over the veto of President Nixon.
In April 2018, Durbintraveled to Venezuela, where he met with then-National Assembly Member Juan Guaidó as well as President Nicolás Maduro, warning him that pursuing a sham election the following month would further isolate his autocratic regime. In July 2024, DurbincondemnedNicolás Maduro for falsely claiming that the nation’s election was called in his favor, despite meticulously documented election results by observers demonstrating overwhelming support for opposition candidate Edmundo González. Hereiterated these commentsin an additional speech on the Senate floor in September 2024.
In September 2024, Durbinmetwith five Latin American democracies’ ambassadors to discuss the electoral crisis in Venezuela. In January 2025, Durbinreintroduced a billterminating all U.S. petroleum cooperation and petroleum-related trade with Venezuela until the legitimate results of the recent Venezuelan election are respected. And in May 2025, Durbinmetvirtually with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
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