Press Release

Senators: “The 60-day clock specified in the War Powers Resolution does not have a pause button.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) , Tim Kaine (D-Va.) , Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) , and 34 Senate Democrats in demanding that President Trump provide legal justification for the use of military force against Iran without congressional authorization. After the Vietnam War, Congress passed legislation requiring presidents to cease military action within 60 days, if those actions are not authorized by Congress. In their letter, the Senators demanded that President Trump adhere to U.S. law. The Senators emphasized that the already unconstitutional war in Iran has violated the 60-day limit set by the War Powers Act and argue that it is common sense to conclude that ongoing naval operations, bombings, blockades, and strike campaigns constitute warlike hostilities—which must end if President Trump does not have Congressional authorization. “Furthermore, the United States and Iran, and their associated partners and proxies, have continued to use lethal force in contravention of the ceasefire, which also constitute hostilities. Finally, U.S. forces remain postured for, and you have regularly threatened, the swift return of major combat operations,” the Senators wrote . The Senators point out that the continued deployment of troops, ongoing strikes, and an active naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz rebut the claim that hostilities have terminated after the April 7 ceasefire. Senator Welch has supported Senators Schiff and Kaine in efforts to force numerous votes in the Senate on the War Powers Resolution , including asserting the 60-day statutory clock, triggered by a notification to Congress, had run out on the president’s ongoing use of military force, in addition to being unconstitutional from the start. “Your administration has not explained to the Congress or the American people why you believe the Constitution permits launching a war of this magnitude – including the loss of U.S. service members’ lives, scores of civilians killed in Iran and the broader region, and staggering economic and geopolitical costs – without authorization from Congress as Article I requires…It is imperative that you publish the OLC legal theory underlying your interpretation to the contrary in a timely manner,” the Senators concluded . In addition to Senators Welch, Schiff, Kaine, and Leader Schumer, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Read and download the Senators’ full letter to Airlines for America President and CEO Sununu. ###