Press Release

Welch is cosponsor of War Powers Resolution to block the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Cuba WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today spoke on the Senate floor in support of a War Powers Resolution led by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and cosponsored by Senator Welch, to prohibit the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces to Cuba.  He also called for an end to the Trump Administration’s illegal military blockade of Cuba, which is inflicting collective punishment on the Cuban people, causing widespread food insecurity and power outages, and decimating basic services on the island. The privileged resolution comes after President Trump threatened that the U.S. would be ‘taking Cuba,’ and predicted that the Cuban Government would ‘fall pretty soon.’ “No American president, under any circumstances—friendly or unfriendly—should threaten to ‘take over’ another sovereign nation. It is Congress’ responsibility to reject such a flagrant ‘might makes right’ abuse of executive power,” said Senator Welch . “Rather than threats of a ‘takeover,’ the United States should negotiate a solution with Cuba that puts U.S. national interests and the needs and aspirations of the Cuban people first. Not the interests of the Cuban Government or American billionaires. I urge my colleagues to support Senator Kaine’s resolution. The American people do not want to wake up in the morning to learn that we’re at war with Cuba. I urge the Trump Administration and Cuba’s leaders to take the steps I’ve outlined to finally put an end to the decades of hostility between us.” Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below : Read a key excerpt from Senator Welch’s speech: “By causing Cuba’s economy to fall apart and leaving millions of Cubans without enough food or access to medical care, the White House hopes to create the national security ‘emergency’ to justify regime change, including, if necessary, the use of military force—and we’ve seen that script play out before with the Trump Administration. President Trump has said as much. He’s repeatedly threatened to use force against Cuba. Without any legal justification, he said: ‘It may be a friendly takeover, ⁠it may not be a friendly takeover. Wouldn’t really matter because they really are ‘down to fumes.’ They have no energy; they have no money.’ The reason Cuba is ‘down to fumes’ is due to its own government, its failed policies, and because of the U.S. oil blockade. Both together have led to this catastrophic situation.” ••• Last month, Senator Welch spoke from the Senate floor to underscore the responsibility of Cuba’s leadership for persecuting political dissidents and the island’s failed centralized economy, while urging President Trump to prioritize the national interests of the United States and the well-being of the Cuban people in any agreement reached, including ending restrictions on Americans’ right to travel to Cuba, supporting Cuba’s private sector, and removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. ###