The House on Thursday approved the Democratic leadership’s proposal to end the Iran war.
directing President Donald Trump to withdraw the armed forces from hostilities
However, the resolution is non-binding. The House voted 214-208, with four Republicans joining all Democrats in casting the deciding vote for the measure: Reps. Thomas Massey, R-Ky., Tom Barrett, R-Mic., Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.
Later in the day, the Senate voted 47-49 to reject a “joint resolution” to end the Iran war that, unlike the House version, would have the force of law but would be subject to a presidential veto. A Republican, Sen Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined every Democrat except Sen John Fetterman, D-Pa., who voted to advance the measure.
Four Republicans did not vote: Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rand Paul, R-Ky.
The votes in both chambers were pushed by Democrats eager to get Republicans on the record about an unpopular war ahead of the midterm elections and reassert Congress’s role as the branch of government responsible for declaring war.
Several Senate Republicans have said the war should not last more than 60 days without congressional approval to comply with federal law. Among them are Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah. But both men voted against a measure to end the Iran war on Thursday.
Asked why, Tillis said the 60-day clock started this month, not back in February when Trump and Israel first attacked Iran. “July 10, to my knowledge, is the first time I’ve heard anyone in the administration mention it as war,” Tillis said, adding that it would be important for Congress to authorise war after the 60 days are up.
“The clock is ticking. We have to get serious about this,” Tillis said. “I think politically, we can help the president fight an unpopular war right now if we give him some legitimacy.”
House Republicans have also expressed willingness to allow Trump some leeway on the 60-day deadline. Still, four GOP members voted with Democrats to pass the resolution rejecting the war through the Republican-controlled House, reflecting the unpopularity of the conflict.
“The vote today shows that Congress is starting to join the 70 per cent of the American people who are against this war, which is clearly a war of choice, and Congress has to step up and demand our constitutional responsibility,” Rep Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Relations Committee, told NBC News.
Meeks added that Democrats have more tools to force Trump to end the war, such as “power of the purse” ahead of Congress’ Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government, including the military. He added that he is introducing a resolution to “sue the administration” for opposing Congress on the Iran war, which he plans to vote on when the House returns from its summer recess in five weeks.
Public opposition to the Iran war has put Republicans in a difficult position in competitive areas.
Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., who represents a swing district and is a top target for Democrats in November, voted against the resolution. He said he recognised the economic impact of war but stressed that Iran could not have nuclear weapons.
“I think people look at fuel prices and they immediately get attached. But I think we all agree that there needs to be an immediate solution. Under no circumstances should Iran have nuclear weapons,” Bresnahan said Thursday. “Iran is not America’s friend, but there needs to be a final solution urgently.”
He said he wants the Strait of Hormuz to open as soon as possible so that gas and fertiliser prices can return to normal. “The sooner, the better,” he said. “But at the same time, you can’t allow a foreign adversary to go rogue and hold American supply chains hostage because they’re just basically operating.”
Seven Republicans and two Democrats voted no on the House Iran measure on Thursday.
This is not the first time that Congress has formally rejected war. The House passed a similar war powers resolution in early June on a 215-208 vote, supported by the same Republicans who voted for the measure on Thursday. The Senate later passed the same non-binding measure.
Democrats continue to force votes to get Republicans on the record about a war that the majority of Americans oppose. Senator Chris Van Hollen, DMD, led the failed Senate initiative.
“Not only do the majority of Americans oppose this war; it’s the most unpopular war we’ve fought in a very, very long time,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., noting that even self-identified “MAGA” voters are sceptical of it.
“These are people who support Donald Trump deeply, but they actually liked it when he was talking about ending wars forever instead of getting into them,” he said.
