Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., introduced a war powers resolution that would require the president to obtain a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force from Congress before striking Iran. The resolution is “privileged,” meaning the Senate is required to promptly debate and vote on the measure, likely during the week of June 15.
“It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States,” Kaine said in a statement. “I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict.”
Kaine’s resolution makes the following points:
- Congress has the sole power to declare war under Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the United States Constitution.
- Congress has not yet declared war upon, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for the use of military force against Iran.
- The question of whether United States forces should be engaged in hostilities against Iran should be answered following a full briefing to Congress and the American public of the issues at stake, a public debate in Congress, and a congressional vote as contemplated by the Constitution.
The resolution still allows the United States to take any defensive measures necessary in the event of an attack.
Israel began what it described as preemptive strikes against Iran’s nuclear program during the week of June 8 as part of Operation Rising Lion. Israeli jets struck Iranian nuclear and military sites around the country. In response, Iran sent a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel which hit both civilian and military infrastructure including Israel’s equivalent of the Pentagon.
President Donald Trump has said the U.S. will not get involved in the war, preferring to reach instead a deal with Iran involving the country’s nuclear enrichment. The U.S. has assisted Israel in defending against Iranian missile barrages. Iran has threatened any country that supports Israel in the conflict.
“The American people have no interest in sending service members to fight another forever war in the Middle East,” Kaine said. “This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation’s men and women in uniform into harm’s way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress.”
Kaine sponsored previous congressional war powers resolutions that rescinded the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force to formally end the Gulf and Iraq Wars. Both the House and Senate have separately voted to repeal the 2002 AUMF, however, they have never done so during the same Congress, and therefore it has not been made into law.
