NEWS: At 60 Days of Iran War, Sen. Schiff, Leader Schumer to Force Vote on War Powers Resolution to Block Trump’s Illegal Iran War

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced the Senate will vote tomorrow, Thursday, April 30, to pass Senator Schiff’s War Powers Resolution and end President Trump’s illegal Iran war. After 60 days of war, it is long past time for Republicans to hold Donald Trump accountable. Senator Schiff laid out the importance of the War Powers Act’s 60-day mark in a video earlier this week. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 , the president must remove the Armed Forces from the conflict after 60 days if Congress does not authorize the use of force. The procedural vote would bring Senator Schiff’s resolution up for Senate consideration on the 60 th day after the administration’s notification to Congress, coinciding with the War Powers Act’s statutory clock running out. Senator Schiff’s resolution is co-led by Leader Schumer and U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), many of whom have also championed separate War Powers Resolutions to halt the unauthorized use of U.S. military forces in Iran. “Some of my colleagues have indicated that the War Powers Act’s 60-day mark is the moment they may join our efforts to bring this war to its conclusion. That time has come. After two months of war, thirteen service members’ lives lost, and billions of dollars squandered, it is time we recognized that the price we have paid is already too high. We must say no to this unauthorized war of choice,” said Senator Schiff. “Donald Trump and his administration are endangering the lives of servicemembers and spending billions on an illegal war that is not supported by the majority of Americans,” said Leader Schumer. “The 60-day milestone underscores the pressing need to pass our War Powers Resolution to withdraw forces from this war, but to be clear – Congress should have acted weeks ago. Senate Republicans must finally stand up for American families and hold Trump accountable.” “It’s been nearly 60 days of President Trump’s war of choice in Iran, which has killed and injured U.S. servicemembers and innocent civilians, raised gas prices across the country, created more instability in the region, and depleted our munition stockpiles. More war in the Middle East is not the answer, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure that this crisis doesn’t spiral further out of control. When our War Powers Resolution comes to the Senate floor tomorrow, I urge my colleagues to finally join us to end this unnecessary and costly conflict,” said Senator Kaine. “President Trump’s unconstitutional war has now dragged on for nearly 60 days — escalating, expanding, and being carried out with no transparency, no strategy, and no end in sight. Even his own Defense Secretary is unable or refusing to communicate any kind of plan, timeline, or strategy. Instead, this Administration is requesting more money to sustain an unauthorized war the American people never agreed to while leaving Congress in the dark. Trump ignored clear warnings about the Strait of Hormuz, and now families are being crushed by the consequences. With gas prices and the cost of basic goods spiking, even more Americans are struggling to make ends meet. Only Congress can declare war or authorize the use of military force, and Congress has done neither. Democrats will continue forcing debate and votes to end this costly war so long as our Republican colleagues continue to abdicate their Constitutional duties. It’s beyond time for Congress to do its job,” said Senator Booker. “Republicans carried water for Trump’s disastrous, unauthorized war as gas prices soared, hardliners in Iran cemented power, and thousands died in the Middle East, including 13 American service members. After nearly 60 days of chaos and incompetence, the clock has run out on their excuses. Republicans must work with Democrats to bring this war to an end now,” said Senator Murphy. “This war is, and has been, illegal since day one. It has been a trainwreck – 13 servicemembers killed and scores more injured, gas and fertilizer prices spiking, and billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars spent. I wholeheartedly disagree with my Republican colleagues who said Trump could wage this war for 60 days without getting Congress’s approval. Regardless – the clock they set is now up, and my Republican colleagues need to end this unnecessary war before more Americans pay the price,” said Senator Baldwin. “Republicans keep wrongly claiming that Trump has 60 days to seek authorization for this needless war—but now, even that fake deadline is looming. As we approach the deadline they’ve set for themselves, I’m imploring my Republican colleagues to stop abandoning their constitutional duty and finally join us in reining in Trump’s spiraling war of choice that’s driving up costs and has left 13 servicemembers dead, with hundreds more wounded,” said Senator Duckworth. This is the sixth time Democrats have forced a vote to end Trump’s illegal war, and Republicans have instead voted to rubberstamp it: On March 4 th , Republicans blocked Senator Kaine’s (D-VA) resolution 47-53. On March 18 th , Republicans blocked Senator Booker’s (D-NJ) resolution 47-53. On March 24 th , Republicans blocked Senator Murphy’s (D-CT) resolution 47-53. On April 15 th , Republicans blocked Senator Duckworth’s (D-IL) resolution 47-52. On April 22 nd , Republicans blocked Senator Baldwin’s (D-WI) resolution 46-51. Full text of the resolution is available here. ###