DEBATE: Republicans And Democrats Square Off Over Iran War Powers Resolution On The House Floor

[0:02] For what purpose does a gentleman from Florida seek recognition? [0:05] I'll let you know in one minute, Mr. Speaker. [0:17] Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of March 3, 2026, I call up [0:21] House Concurrent Resolution 38 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House. [0:26] The clerk will report the title of the concurrent resolution. [0:29] House Concurrent Resolution 38, concurrent resolution directing the President, [0:33] pursuant to Section 5C of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed [0:38] Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. [0:46] Pursuant to the order of the House of March 3, 2026, the concurrent resolution is considered [0:50] as read. [0:51] The concurrent resolution shall be debatable for two hours, equally divided and controlled [0:55] by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or their [0:59] respective designees. [1:00] The gentleman from Florida, Mr. Mast, and the gentleman from New York, Mr. Meeks, will [1:04] each control 60 minutes. [1:05] The chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida. [1:07] Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent. [1:09] I ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days in which to [1:12] revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the resolution [1:16] under consideration. [1:18] Without objection. [1:20] Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. [1:23] The gentleman is recognized. [1:25] Mr. Speaker, the Trump administration exhausted every single diplomatic effort that they could [1:35] with Iran, as did previous administrations. [1:40] Iran would not see reason. [1:42] Mr. Speaker, Operation Epic Fury. [1:46] It is a legal and necessary exercise of Article 2 authority to address the imminent threat [1:53] posed by Iran. [1:55] And Mr. Speaker, I reserve. [1:57] The gentleman reserves. [1:59] The gentleman from New York is recognized. [2:01] Mr. Speaker, in Donald Trump's own words, in the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsiff's [2:10] own words, the United States is at war with Iran. [2:19] The question is, did Congress authorize the war? [2:23] Mr. Speaker, yes. [2:26] The Constitution requires. [2:31] Did the President present anything before Congress? [2:35] Did the Congress have any debate? [2:41] Did any administrative authority come before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to testify? [2:54] The answer to that is no. [2:58] The question is, was there any imminent threat requiring the use of force? [3:07] The administration has not presented one. [3:11] In fact, the word imminent does not appear even once in the administration's own world [3:22] powers notification. [3:24] Can't find the word imminent. [3:27] Did the Trump administration even bother making the case to the American people or to Congress? [3:38] Just eight days ago, during the State of the Union, the most visible platform as a president [3:45] has. [3:46] He could have laid out the rationale. [3:48] For example. [3:50] The military action as other presidents have. [3:54] Instead, Iran was just a footnote in a record long speech. [4:06] This is a war of choice that was launched by this administration without authorization, [4:15] without clearly stating objectives or defined end game, and without explaining how they [4:23] intend to keep Americans safe. [4:27] The chaos. [4:28] The outcome. [4:30] The outcome of the war. [4:32] It will be born by our aligns men and women in uniform who will face retaliation from Iran [4:40] and it's proxy networks. [4:41] The assumption is that our nuclear weapons will be unleashed and will not be born by the [4:46] president's family. [4:48] It will be born by our men and women in uniform who will face retaliation from Iran and it's [4:54] proxy networks. [4:55] It will be born by innocent civilians at heightened risk of attacks from Iran's aligned terrorist [5:00] cells. [5:02] for Donald Trump's war of choice. Americans woke up on Saturday to the [5:10] news that the United States is again at war in the Middle East. They don't know [5:18] for how long because the president has not articulate a clearly defined endgame. [5:24] Military action without a defined strategy invites escalation, [5:31] mission creep, and failure. We should have learned this lesson already. Why? We [5:39] should have learned it, or where? From Iraq, from Afghanistan, and Vietnam. As Benjamin [5:47] Franklin once said, when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This War Powers [5:58] Resolution is simple. This is not a vote on the authorization for use of military [6:03] force. This simply demands that the President of the United States come to [6:08] Congress and [6:09] act as our Constitution demands to seek authorization for what he himself has [6:17] described as a war. Just abide by the Constitution. We all bring our hands up [6:26] and swear when we're sworn and say we will abide by the Constitution. You would [6:35] think that the President of the United States would do just that. This War Powers [6:42] Resolution does not prevent the United States from defending itself. [6:47] It does not stop the President from responding to an imminent attack it does [6:53] not limit us from protecting our troops you know. I've served in Congress for 28 [7:02] years [7:04] and I've been in this chamber as this body has done its most sacred and [7:08] serious work, [7:10] deliberating whether to send our American service members into harm's [7:15] way. [7:18] It's a difficult vote. It's a serious vote, probably the- not probably, without [7:26] question. [7:27] the hardest votes that I've ever had to take. [7:33] But that's my responsibility. [7:37] I took a pledge to the Constitution [7:41] that I would follow it. [7:47] You know, I was here for the vote after 9-11 [7:56] to go into Afghanistan, a heavy decision. [8:02] The president brought information in. [8:05] We had dialogue, we had conversation, we had debate. [8:09] We did something else. [8:11] In the House Foreign Affairs Committee, we had hearings. [8:16] We had administration officials come in. [8:21] I wasn't even the ranking member [8:22] or the chair or anything else. [8:25] I was just a member of the committee. [8:27] I could call the administration and say, [8:30] I need to speak to a deputy secretary or the secretary. [8:37] And they would come into my office [8:39] and we would have this dialogue to determine [8:43] whether or not we were gonna go into this war. [8:49] Has that happened now? [8:52] For over a year, for all the times, [8:57] not once, not once have we had a hearing [9:02] in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. [9:06] We've asked to have [9:09] individuals that were negotiating. [9:12] Unfortunately, some of them are not employed [9:14] by the State Department, et cetera, [9:16] like Mr. Kushner and Mr. Witkoff, [9:20] who all are friends of the president's, [9:24] basically real estate negotiators, [9:25] who they were just half an hour in Geneva [9:27] flipping back and forth from two major negotiations. [9:32] And if it was serious, [9:35] I wouldn't have been in the White House [9:38] when the president was supposed to been honoring individuals [9:43] after we had lost the lives of six service members, [9:48] and I'm talking about curtains [9:51] and how I redecorated the White House. [9:57] This is too serious a decision for me. [10:01] I would hope for the president of the United States also. [10:11] So getting the facts in Iraq, [10:17] the Secretary of State came before and testified, [10:21] went before the UN, talked to the American people. [10:25] Now I disagreed because I didn't see the connections [10:30] after I got the information on Iraq. [10:35] So I voted no. [10:36] I agreed on Afghanistan, [10:37] but the point here is the president obeyed the Constitution [10:41] because he came to Congress first [10:46] and allowed the members of Congress [10:47] to make a determination. [10:52] What has to stop, [10:54] because what has happened year after year in my time here, [10:59] I have watched Congress gradually relinquish its authority [11:05] on matters of war to the executive branch. [11:10] We've allowed overly broad authorizations [11:12] for the use of military force to remain on the books. [11:16] We have permitted presidents of both parties [11:19] to commit forces without a vote. [11:23] This war with Iran is the most extreme example [11:28] of that abdication. [11:32] The framers rejected the idea of a king, [11:39] meaning one person making a decision without consultation, [11:46] without giving any reason to this body. [11:52] Absolutely rejected. [11:55] We're not under an authoritarian regime. [11:58] We're under an authoritarian government, [12:01] like Russia, for example, [12:03] where Vladimir Putin, he can go to war. [12:08] He doesn't have to worry about the Duma. [12:12] They're not a body that has the responsibility [12:14] that we have in this Congress. [12:16] So he can go on and fight a war that he's created [12:26] without worrying about being or having to talk [12:28] and being accountable to anyone. [12:30] Our founding fathers did not want that. [12:34] They didn't want a king. [12:37] That's why we were created as a body. [12:41] And it's long past. [12:43] Time for us to reclaim and stand up for that authority. [12:53] For I tell you, even though he may want to think he is, [12:58] Donald Trump is not a king. [13:01] And if he believes the war with Iran [13:04] is in our national interest, [13:07] then he must come to Congress and make the case. [13:13] Show the facts. [13:17] Show what the intelligence says. [13:20] Come to Congress and allow us to ask [13:23] the questions. [13:27] We've had three scenarios. [13:29] The so-called Gang of Eight met once. [13:36] Then they got another phone call right beforehand. [13:39] Then the so-called Gang of 20 met once. [13:43] That's all we've heard from the president. [13:46] So I oppose this war of choice. [13:56] But guess what, Mr. Speaker? [13:58] Each member here must make clear with their own vote [14:03] where they stand on that decision. [14:07] The president has initiated hostilities [14:09] without a clear mission and without a coherent [14:12] strategy and without a defined end game. [14:16] And some members of Congress may decide [14:18] after they see everything, [14:20] we may not see it together in the same way. [14:25] But the evidence and the case comes here [14:29] and then we take a vote. [14:33] And as was the occasion for me back in 2003, [14:38] I voted one way, the majority voted another way. [14:40] The president had the authority. [14:44] Another time, I voted the way the majority voted. [14:49] But each time, they came to us. [14:53] And that's what this debate is about. [14:57] And that's what we need to do. [14:58] Now, Mike, as I see this, the president [15:02] has initiated hostilities without a clear mission, [15:06] without a coherent strategy, and without a defined end game. [15:11] So this is an open-ended, undefined military engagement [15:16] is precisely what the War Powers Resolution [15:19] was designed to restrain. [15:22] We are not the Iranian parliament. [15:25] We are not a rubber-stamp Congress, or at least we [15:29] shouldn't be a rubber-stamp Congress. [15:35] But in this scenario, we see whatever this president wants, [15:39] my colleagues on the other side will just rubber-stamp it. [15:44] We should be a co-equal branch of government. [15:48] And our duty is not optional. [15:50] It was written in the Constitution. [15:53] The framers gave Congress this authority [15:55] because they believed no single person [15:57] should have the power to take this nation to war alone. [16:02] We either defend the principle or we surrender it. [16:11] I choose to defend the Constitution [16:14] and defend the principle and do my job [16:19] that I put my hand up and swore I would. [16:24] Hard votes, easy votes, I'll take them all [16:28] because that's what I swore an oath to do. [16:32] And with that, I reserve the balance of my time. [16:34] The gentleman reserves. [16:35] The gentleman from Florida is recognized. [16:37] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [16:38] I yield myself as much time [16:40] as I may. [16:40] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [16:41] I yield myself as much time as I may. [16:41] I yield myself as much time as I may. [16:42] I yield myself as much time as I may. [16:44] Gentlemen's recognized. [16:44] My colleague talked about choices. [16:47] Defending yourself is a choice. [16:49] It's a choice that not everybody makes. [16:52] Some people, instead of defending themselves, [16:55] curl up into a corner and cry and turn their eyes. [16:59] Some people stand up and they step into the fight [17:03] and they make the tough choice of going through the battles [17:07] that it takes to defend yourself. [17:09] I will thank, again, President Trump for defending America [17:13] from an imminent, [17:14] threat. An imminent threat that no other president has had the guts to stand up to. [17:23] What is that imminent threat? What was that imminent threat that President Trump is doing [17:30] his duty, his constitutional duty, his article to authority to defend America against? I will tell [17:38] you, it is something that almost every single member of Congress has literally agreed upon [17:43] up until President Trump decided to defend America. Previously, almost every member of [17:53] Congress voted to call Iran the largest state sponsor of terror, and tomorrow we will cast a [18:00] vote on what was just debated about reaffirming that they are the largest state sponsor of terror. [18:07] Nearly all members unanimously voted to condemn their continuous funding of terrorist proxies [18:14] like Hamas and Hezbollah. What does that mean? [18:17] It means they give them money, they give them weapons, they give them training, they give them [18:22] direction on where to find and how to kill Americans, and then they reward them for doing [18:27] that. Almost every member of Congress has voted unanimously to condemn that. It was almost a [18:34] unanimous vote calling their nuclear program a massive threat to the United States of America. [18:41] My colleague over there voted in the affirmative on that. Almost every one of us voted to designate [18:48] the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Those votes, they didn't just [18:55] happen for no reason. We have seen Iran as an imminent threat against America, not just for the [19:02] last four days, not just for the last four months or four years, but for the last 40 years. Why do [19:10] they continue to be an imminent threat? Because they have never faced an imminent response until [19:22] now. When I say we, I could say America, but really it was my Democrat colleagues that told [19:26] them this. Told them how much uranium they could enrich instead of they can't do it, period. We [19:36] told them when they could have a nuclear weapon instead of no. And on top of that, again, I say [19:47] we because it's the America, but it was really my Democrat colleagues, gave them pallets of cash. [19:55] That's a fact. Me especially. [20:04] My colleagues, I wouldn't take this away from anybody here. No one wants to see our military go [20:10] into combat or war or conduct combat operations or battle or whatever word somebody wants to [20:17] use to describe it. I do not want to see conflicts end in casualties. I wear many names on my [20:26] wrists of friends that I have lost. But Iran's terror, which has caused the death of thousands [20:34] of Americans, it has to stop. They don't warn us when they're going to kill our Americans. They [20:44] are an imminent threat against America. They knock on the door, or they knock on the door of the [20:44] world. They don't warn us when they're going to kill our Americans. They are an imminent threat [20:45] threat they look for a surprise they look for an opportunity any weakness any moment that they can [20:52] go out there and attack us they are an imminent threat there has proven no other way to stop this [21:01] imminent threat not by negotiation not by accord not by summit so let's talk about this imminent [21:13] threat three u.s soldiers killed at tower 22 a year and a half ago sergeant sanders sergeant [21:24] moffett sergeant rivers imminent threat countless civilian vessels targeted by iranian drones [21:40] that is what an imminent threat looks like this one just pisses me off beyond belief 10 [21:57] u.s navy sailors captured and held on their knees at gunpoint by the iranian navy imminent threat [22:08] the october 7 attack killing 1200 civilians including 46 americans supported by iran [22:19] again that is an imminent threat very personal to me iran's killing of an estimated one in six [22:32] american service members in iraq between 2003 and 2011 imminent threat beyond that u.s fighter jets [22:48] lost sunk off one of our carriers in the red sea because of houthi attacks [22:53] that is an imminent threat if you ask an american whether they want war or combat you can ask me that [23:03] question i would say no i don't want it i've been in it i don't want it for my children but we do [23:11] want president to stop iran's imminent threats if i said do you want combat anybody with sense would [23:19] say no what do you want us to do if there's 10 american navy men and women put on their knees [23:26] at gunpoint by iran we want you to take care of that do you want us to go into combat no what do [23:32] you want us to do if there's three american service members killed at tower 22 by that imminent we want [23:39] to take care of that this is what taking care of that looks like president trump has been clear [23:46] consistent and transparent iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and he made every effort to address [23:55] this through diplomatic means let me quote directly from a resolution that democrats [24:02] overwhelmingly supported including my colleagues the house of representatives declares it is the [24:12] policy of the united states to use all means [24:17] necessary to prevent iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon leader jeffries voted on it ranking member [24:28] meeks voted on it speaker emeritus pelosi voted on it did they not believe it when they voted on it [24:36] did they not read it did they not understand use all means necessary to prevent iran from obtaining [24:45] a nuclear weapon we all know iran poses an imminent threat to the united states the only [24:51] difference now is that president trump is sitting in office right now our military [24:57] is shooting down iranian missiles and drones that are targeting americans in the region [25:01] if democrats had their way and this resolution passed they would force united states military [25:08] to pack up stop shooting down missiles tell every american sheltering in place [25:16] every ally fighting against this regime that america is no longer there to help and while [25:24] this does not fit the narrative of my democrat colleagues president trump had the authority to do [25:30] under article 2 of the constitution and the war powers resolution act to get the job done and he [25:37] has been transparent with this congress secretary rubio secretary hagseth general kane director of [25:45] the cia radcliffe all conducting now three specific briefs making our objective clear [25:54] destroy every single piece of iranian military hardware that can reach out and touch americans [26:02] or has been used to reach out and touch americans mr speaker i reserve reserves a gentleman from new [26:11] york is recognized mr speaker all i say mr speaker is that if iran has been an imminent threat for 47 [26:25] years the word imminent then loses all meaning i yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman [26:38] from new york the democratic leader in the united states house of representatives [26:44] from brooklyn new york the honorable hakeem jeffries the minority leader is recognized for [26:52] one minute i thank you mr speaker and i thank my good friend the distinguished gentleman from [26:58] queens the great state of new york the once and future chairman of the foreign affairs committee [27:03] mr meeks for his leadership and for yielding i rise today in strong support of the american [27:10] people in support of our men and women in uniform in support of the united states constitution and [27:18] state of utensils for the military our state's new anti-terrorist forces and for our government [27:26] our state's new anti-terrorist forces who stand with our people in facing an unprecedented war [27:32] war powers resolution as we gather here today on the florida house of representatives [27:40] there are mothers and fathers across this country who are in mourning confronting the heartbreaking [27:46] loss of their loved ones in uniform my prayers are with the families of the six american [27:55] and may their memories always be a blessing mr speaker every member who serves in this chamber [28:06] has sworn an oath of office it seems as though many of my republican colleagues have forgotten [28:14] that so let me remind you in part as to what it says i do solemnly swear that i will support [28:26] and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemies foreign and domestic [28:37] so help me god in this remarkable country the greatest nation in the history of the [28:43] world we don't swear an oath to a king to a political party or to a man bent on desecrating [28:51] the oval office in the congress in the courts and in the military we swear an oath to the [28:58] united states constitution mr speaker when the framers drafted that glorious document [29:07] they feared the rise of a monarch a demagogue a tyrant today we are here on the house floor [29:16] because the constitution the binding document that makes us all americans is being trampled [29:25] on by a wannabe king as members of the house of representatives the branch of government [29:32] who the framers decided would be the closest to the american people to reflect the hopes the [29:38] dreams the aspirations the fears the concerns the anxieties the life experiences and the passions [29:44] of the american people we have a solemn obligation democrats and republicans alike we are all [29:53] guardians of the american people and of the constitution we swore an oath that compels us [30:01] to ensure that this president's modern day injuries and abuses come to an end we're at war [30:11] now in the middle east spending billions of dollars to bomb iran when republicans refuse to [30:18] find a dime to make health care affordable for the american people to make sure that everyday [30:28] americans can go see a doctor when they need one this war has not been a war it has been a war [30:35] it has been authorized by the people's representatives here in this glorious house [30:42] article 1 of the constitution explicitly provides congress with the sole authority to declare war [30:51] there is nothing ambiguous about that the framers made that decision because they were concerned [31:00] about kings who throughout time plunged their people into unnecessary wars [31:08] impoverishing them or imperiling their lives [31:13] sending them off to a foreign conflict often to pillage the resources of others for the benefit [31:22] of a tyrant and his family sound familiar that's why the power to declare war was given explicitly [31:35] to the house and to the senate given to the people's representatives abraham lincoln as a [31:44] member of this house in 1848 once profoundly observed the provision of the constitution giving [31:53] the war making power to congress was dictated [31:57] as i understand it by the following reasons kings had always been involving and impoverishing their [32:06] people in wars pretending generally if not always that the good of the people was the object [32:17] this our convention understood to be the most oppressive of all kingly oppressions and they [32:25] resolved to so frame the constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this [32:31] oppression upon us [32:35] then congressman abraham lincoln republican congressman 1848 that is why we have advanced [32:50] this war power's resolution today donald trump intentionally refused to get authorization from [33:00] congress for this war of choice a war that has now exploded to more than 10 countries across the [33:09] middle east president has not even mr speaker bothered to offer a coherent answer to the most [33:18] basic questions that any far-fetched president could ask for above and beyond his master's degree to [33:19] the highest minimum level of education in the world he has failed to offer a coherent answer to the most [33:20] commander-in-chief should address when making the solemn decision to take us to [33:25] war. Why are we doing this? What are our objectives? How will this all end? [33:36] Mr. Speaker, if this military action, this war is so principled, why is the president [33:41] unwilling or unable to make his case directly to the American people? If the [33:49] tremendous cost to American taxpayers in terms of sacred human lives and our [33:53] nation's precious resources is so justified, why does the president's [34:00] rationale, why does the administration's rationale change every single day? [34:08] Now make no mistake, Iran is a bad actor. They must be confronted for their [34:16] nuclear aspirations, painful human rights abuses, and repression of its own people, [34:24] including the slaughter of thousands of civilians during the recent protests. [34:31] It is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. [34:34] It is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. [34:35] It is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. It is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. [34:35] It is a brutal regime that presents a serious threat to our allies in the [34:40] Middle East, including Israel, Jordan, and the Gulf states. But the President has a [34:47] responsibility to justify plunging America into another war that will cost [34:56] more American lives and billions, if not trillions, in taxpayer resources. That's [35:05] the President's obligation, and he has fallen woefully short of that [35:13] responsibility. Now the Trump administration has offered at least five [35:19] different reasons to justify the war, all of which are built on deception and [35:26] misdirection. First, Donald Trump claimed that the U.S. would attack Iran to [35:32] protect the demonstrators who were risking their lives to demand democratic [35:37] change. He even urged them weeks ago to rise up and seize state institutions. But [35:46] as the regime cracked down brutally, killing tens of thousands of their own [35:50] citizens the President did nothing. Even as Donald Trump urged ordinary Iranians [35:57] to take greater risks there was never a viable military option for defending [36:05] unarmed protesters against a brutal police state without sending hundreds of [36:12] thousands of American troops into Iran. It was an empty pledge to the Iranian [36:22] people that the current bombing campaign does nothing to undo. Second, Donald Trump [36:32] and his advisors claimed- [36:33] that Iran's unwillingness to negotiate away its nuclear program left no choice [36:39] but for us to attack. Now this is the very same person, Mr. Speaker, who told [36:46] the country last summer that Iran's nuclear program was completely and [36:50] totally obliterated. The same administration whose Department of [36:56] Defense has said that the Iranian nuclear program was set back several [37:00] years and whose State Department said Iran isn't even enriching uranium today. [37:07] Mr. Speaker, was the Commander-in-Chief confused in June or is he confused right [37:17] now? It was not long ago when America could be sure that we were preventing [37:24] Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon. The Iran nuclear agreement successfully did [37:29] that until Donald Trump recklessly decided to pull the plug because he [37:36] suffers from Obama derangement syndrome. The President has spent much of [37:43] the past year trying and failing to restore the [37:47] same negotiated safeguards he abandoned for partisan political reasons. And [37:55] because of his failure to negotiate the guardrails that he destroyed, he has now [38:02] taken us to war. Third, President Trump claims that Iran poses an imminent [38:09] threat to the United States through its development of intercontinental [38:14] ballistic missiles that could perhaps someday reach our shores. If Iran is [38:21] actually on the verge of having that capability, the President should provide [38:25] the evidence. But no such evidence has been presented to this Congress or to [38:33] the American people. We can only assume that it does not exist. Fourth, Donald [38:42] Trump said that he wanted to achieve regime change. Now Donald Trump is an [38:50] individual who promised Americans on the campaign trail that launching regime [38:55] change wars in the Middle East has been one of the most foolish and costly [39:01] things that the United States has ever done. [39:05] Those are Donald Trump's words on the campaign trail. Candidate Trump said that if [39:13] elected, he would never get our country into an endless regime war. President [39:19] Trump has now done the exact opposite. Regime change wars are among the most [39:29] expensive things that we can undertake. And yes, Secretary Hegseth, for decades [39:33] they have failed to accomplish their objective. Vietnam was a regime change [39:43] war. [39:46] Pakistan was a regime change war. Iraq was a regime change war. And despite the [39:54] incredible bravery of our heroes and patriots, because of failed policy [40:00] decisions, they didn't work out. Even if the Iranian regime were to fall, we have [40:09] no way to control what comes next, which most experts believe would be the [40:18] Iranian Revolutionary Guard-led government rising up and being just as [40:25] repressive and antagonistic as the [40:29] current theocracy and perhaps even more committed to the acquisition of nuclear [40:37] weapons. Fifth and most recently, Donald Trump said I had a feeling Iran would [40:47] attack. As some sort of rationale for going to war. Donald Trump had a feeling [40:56] that Iran would attack. The United States government has initiated a war, put [41:05] American lives at risk. Six patriots have already been killed. Thousands of American citizens should leave the country. [41:09] been killed thousands of American citizens [41:12] are stranded in the Middle East and he's plunged the entire Middle East into a [41:18] war and chaos over a feeling. It's outrageous, it's unacceptable, it shocks [41:26] the conscience. The last few days six service members have died and the Trump [41:35] administration has acknowledged that more of our heroes are going to be [41:40] killed. We have no concrete justification for why we are putting American troops [41:48] in harm's way and spending billions of dollars on a foreign war while the [41:52] affordability crisis rages here at home. A crisis Donald Trump said he would fix [41:59] on day one but instead Republican policies have made worse. Taxpayer [42:06] dollars should be used to drop grocery prices, drop housing costs, and drop [42:13] health insurance premiums. Instead Donald Trump is spending billions of taxpayer [42:18] dollars to drop bombs in the Middle East. [42:22] Mr. Speaker, the President's war is unwise, it's unpopular, unauthorized, [42:30] unlawful and unconstitutional. And in the United States we serve the rule of law [42:42] not the rule of man. James Madison once wrote in 1788 the accumulation of all [42:51] powers, legislative, executive and judiciary, in the same hands may justly [42:58] be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. Our Constitution requires the [43:07] president justify an execution which under files would only justify aiders to bins, [43:07] get approval from the Congress before launching a war. [43:13] That has not happened, [43:16] and that's why this bipartisan resolution led by Democrats [43:21] is on the floor of the House of Representatives today. [43:26] In their wisdom, the framers believed [43:29] that they had made it impossible for a president [43:31] to do what Donald Trump has just done, [43:36] and that no other president has done before, [43:38] launched a major war in the Middle East [43:43] without the approval of Congress. [43:48] That's what Donald Trump's time in office [43:50] has been all about, failure after failure, [43:53] betrayal after betrayal, disaster after disaster. [44:01] In his return to the presidency, Mr. Speaker, [44:04] Donald Trump has left America less prosperous, [44:07] less safe, and less free. [44:11] He has hurt us again and again, failed us again and again, [44:16] and now by launching this unauthorized war of choice, [44:22] setting fire to our Constitution. [44:27] The American people deserve better. [44:33] And as Democrats, [44:34] we're committed to continuing to fight [44:37] to use your taxpayer dollars [44:40] to lower the high cost of living, [44:42] to fix our broken healthcare system, [44:44] and to clean up corruption. [44:47] And we stand on the floor here today [44:50] to make sure that those taxpayer dollars [44:53] are being used in ways that are designed [44:55] to make life better for the American people, [44:59] not launching another endless war in the Middle East [45:02] that is destined to cost more American lives [45:06] and waste billions, if not trillions, [45:08] in taxpayer dollars. [45:11] We are here to stand up for the American people. [45:13] We are here to stand up for our men and women in uniform. [45:17] We are here to stand up for the rule of law [45:20] and the United States Constitution. [45:22] We will not rest until we end this national nightmare [45:27] and continue America's march toward a more perfect union. [45:31] Vote yes on this War Powers Resolution. [45:35] I yield back. [45:36] The gentleman yields. [45:36] The gentleman reserves. [45:38] The gentleman from Florida is recognizing. [45:39] The gentleman from Florida is recognizing. [45:44] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [45:46] I heard a lot there. [45:49] I didn't hear any discussion of Article II authority. [45:52] I heard a lot of reminiscing, [45:54] but I didn't hear any reminiscing about Libya either. [46:10] Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield four minutes [46:16] to the gentleman from Texas, [46:18] Chairman Emeritus of the Foreign Affairs Committee, [46:20] Mr. McCaul. [46:21] The gentleman from Texas is recognized. [46:23] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [46:24] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [46:26] Speaker, in 1979, the Islamic Revolution began, [46:30] and a dark veil of terror descended [46:32] upon the Middle East. [46:34] Since then, Iran has operated as a nucleus [46:37] of the world's most dangerous terror network. [46:41] When the withdrawal from Afghanistan set the world [46:43] on fire, the regime grew even more emboldened, [46:48] fanning the flames of chaos and violence beyond its borders. [46:52] From that moment onward, China, Russia, and Iran [46:55] have been locked together in an unholy alliance, [46:59] which seeks to destroy Western values [47:02] and upend the global balance of power. [47:04] Iran has played a key role in these malign efforts, [47:08] arming Russia with lethal drones to massacre Ukrainians [47:12] and fueling China's military machine [47:14] through illicit sales of oil. [47:17] Its terror proxies, Hamas, Houthis, and Hezbollah, [47:21] have sown terror and instability across the world. [47:26] This is a regime that values martyrdom over prosperity [47:30] and chaos over peace. [47:32] Their legacy of American bloodshed in Beirut, [47:35] and the USS Cole, to harboring terrorists after 9-11, [47:39] to backing Hamas' unprovoked October 7 attacks [47:43] that killed 46 Americans. [47:46] A regime this murderous can never be allowed [47:49] to have a nuclear weapon. [47:51] Thanks to President Trump and Operation Epic Fury, [47:55] the dark shroud that covered the Middle East [47:58] for nearly five decades has now been lifted. [48:01] And the people of Iran, who have suffered so greatly [48:05] at the hands of the people of Iran, [48:06] have finally had a chance for freedom. [48:10] This is an historic moment, [48:13] one that could finally put the Middle East [48:15] on the path to peace. [48:17] In my judgment, Iran's decision to hit our partners [48:21] with this was a severe miscalculation, [48:25] turning the Gulf nations against Iran. [48:28] Meanwhile, the regimes of the so-called allies, [48:31] Russia and China, have abandoned Iran. [48:35] Iran is isolated and now in isolation. [48:37] It's an island, and normalization between Israel [48:40] and the Arab nations, as envisioned in the Abraham Accords, [48:44] is now at hand. [48:47] Despite these truths, congressional Democrats [48:50] are seeking to force President Trump to halt Epic Fury [48:55] mid-operation, risking the objectives [48:58] of this critical mission solely for political purposes. [49:03] Now is not the time to tie the hands [49:06] of our Commander-in-Chief. [49:08] And it's also not the time to hold up DHS funding. [49:12] Even before Operation Epic Fury, [49:15] the threat landscape was at an all-time high. [49:18] President Biden's open border allowed more than [49:21] 700 Iranian nationals to enter our country, [49:25] and more than 18,000 known or suspected terrorists. [49:29] As a former chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, [49:32] I know all too well sleeper cells [49:35] can't execute foreign-inspired or directed [49:38] acts of terrorism within our borders. [49:41] And we have already seen that happen in my hometown of Austin, [49:45] where three people were tragically killed [49:48] over the weekend at the hands of the terrorists. [49:51] Operation Epic Fury confronts this threat head-on, [49:56] severing the tentacles Iran has wrapped around the globe [50:02] to strangle peace and spread terror. [50:05] The ayatollah's reign of terror began with weak leadership [50:09] from President Carter. [50:11] It will end with strong leadership from President Trump. [50:16] This war powers resolution is ill-timed and ill-advised. [50:21] Congress must stand with the President and our military [50:25] to finally close, once and for all, [50:28] this dark chapter of history [50:30] and pave the way for lasting peace. [50:34] And with that, I yield back. [50:35] The gentleman yields, the gentleman reserves, [50:37] the gentleman from New York is recognized. [50:40] I didn't reserve you. [50:41] I'm sorry. [50:42] Mr. Speaker, I gotta say, [50:43] I heard one of the craziest things from my colleague [50:45] just a couple minutes ago, [50:47] that if something has been going on for 40 years, [50:50] it can't be imminent. [50:51] It can't meet the definition of imminent [50:53] if it's been going on for 40 years. [50:54] That's one of the most absurd things I've ever heard. [50:58] If every day I walk out of my house [51:01] and get my tail kicked by somebody, [51:04] that is the exact definition of imminent. [51:07] It will happen tomorrow. [51:09] It will happen the next day and the next day. [51:11] Until you finally step up, [51:15] grow the spine, and prevent it from happening. [51:18] One of the most absurd arguments I've ever heard. [51:20] Now I reserve. [51:21] The gentleman reserves, [51:22] the gentleman from New York is recognized. [51:24] Mr. Speaker, now it is my great honor [51:28] to yield two minutes to a person [51:32] who is the greatest speaker in the history [51:35] of the United States Congress, [51:37] the first woman, the distinguished Speaker Emerita, [51:43] the Honorable Nancy Pelosi. [51:46] The gentlelady is recognized. [51:47] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [51:48] I thank the gentleman for yielding [51:50] and for his kind words, but more importantly, [51:52] for his leadership in present, [51:54] bringing us together today and his great statement [51:57] and that of our distinguished leader, [51:59] Mr. Jeffries, that we heard earlier. [52:01] I stand here as former leader, [52:04] but also as one with 30 years of experience in intelligence. [52:09] And I think this is a very important debate for us [52:11] to have other two debates going on here. [52:13] One is a debate as to the Constitution [52:16] of the United States. [52:17] The other is whether Iran should have a nuclear weapon, [52:21] which we all agree they should not. [52:23] But that doesn't mean the Constitution [52:25] of the United States should be a casualty of that [52:28] because you want to take a shortcut to the war. [52:32] I rise in mourning for the brave service members [52:34] who have given their lives in this conflict. [52:36] We honor their ultimate sacrifice and we pray for them, [52:39] their families, and all who are injured in it so far. [52:42] I had some veterans, Mr. Speaker, [52:44] in my office earlier today [52:46] and we talked about the fact that having six people killed [52:52] so early at the beginning of a conflict, [52:57] initiation of hostilities, is unacceptable. [53:01] What is our plan? [53:01] What do we have in mind for them? [53:04] So again, we all agree Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. [53:07] And to that end, I'm so, that's why I'm so proud [53:10] of what President Obama did with this. [53:12] He was masterful in diplomacy and forging an agreement [53:16] that verbally, [53:16] that verifiably prevented Iran [53:20] from having, obtaining a nuclear weapon. [53:22] I have this book of statements from our colleagues [53:25] who told the President, [53:27] we need to see the substance of the agreement. [53:30] We need to see the validation and proof of it all. [53:33] We need the communication to the American people. [53:37] The President respected the Congress [53:39] and came and gave reasons, and this is for an agreement. [53:43] And this President won't even come and give us the data, [53:46] for an action of war. [53:48] So let's be clear, this is not a date [53:50] about the merits of the war, that's another debate. [53:53] It's a debate of the Constitution of the United States. [53:56] The beauty of the Constitution, [53:59] central to it, is the separation of power. [54:02] I yield the gentlelade another 30 seconds. [54:03] Okay, essential of power, Article One, [54:06] and in that Article One, is very importantly, [54:10] the power of the Congress to declare war. [54:14] So, but again, let us, let us, let us, let us, [54:15] let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, [54:16] let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, let us, [54:18] let us be serious about our oath of office [54:20] to protect and defend the Constitution as we protect [54:22] and defend the people of our country. [54:25] That is our responsibility, that is what we will do. [54:28] I urge our colleagues to vote in support of the Constitution, [54:31] then go on to the debate of whether we should go into Iran [54:35] or how we go into Iran, I think that there'll be [54:37] some mixed views on that, but that's a different subject. [54:42] I urge our colleagues to honor your oath of office, [54:43] honor the vision of our Founders, [54:45] of the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform who've gotten us here today thank you gentlelady [54:51] yields to the gentleman reserve gentleman reserves the gentleman from florida is recognized [54:56] thank you mr speaker three quick points uh just number one it is article two of the constitution [55:01] that gives the president the authority to defend us against the imminent threat of iran [55:06] i would say that if the iran nuclear deal was so masterful why didn't they bring it before [55:11] congress in the senate before the senate and the final point that i would make is this [55:17] again last congress 354 members of congress including 150 democrats and speaker emeritus [55:23] pelosi who just spoke all voted to say use all means necessary to prevent iran from obtaining [55:30] a nuclear weapon that was their vote and i am proud to yield four minutes to the gentleman [55:35] from arkansas chairman of the intelligence committee mr crawford the gentleman is recognized [55:40] i think the chairman [55:42] my good friend mr mast for yielding and for his leadership on highlighting the error of removing [55:46] the united states armed forces from a conflict it will bring an end to a 47-year engagement [55:52] mr speaker make no mistake about it the iranian regime is the largest state sponsor of terrorism [55:56] in the world and despite extensive diplomatic efforts the regime refuses to give up its nuclear [56:00] weapon ambitions its ballistic cruise and anti-ship missile production and proliferation [56:05] or its support of terror as secretary rubio said yesterday quote iran is run by lunatics religious [56:12] lunatics they have an ambition to have nuclear weapons they intend to develop those nuclear [56:16] weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism that the world will not be able to [56:21] touch them for fear of those things end quote when these murderous despots tell us what they want [56:27] that they want to eliminate us from existence which they have said time and time again over [56:31] the past 47 years and now in a relatively short time frame they attempt to sprint to the finish [56:36] line by significantly hardening their conventional defensive posture expediting the development of [56:42] weapons and showing their desperation by slaughtering thousands of their own people it's clear that we [56:47] have reached the point of no return a point after which it's too late to respond we all know that we [56:52] wouldn't be here today if the president's name wasn't donald trump democrats have been calling [56:57] for the u.s to take action against iran until donald trump did so last month democrats democrats [57:02] sponsored hr 7380 the iran act chastising the iranian regime for repeatedly shutting down [57:08] internet connectivity and impeding the iranian people from communicating during [57:12] emergencies and exercising internationally recognized human rights and earlier this year [57:17] the democrats sponsored hr 5912 the disrupt act would require the executive branch to quote develop [57:24] a whole of government strategy to disrupt growing cooperation among the people's republic of china [57:29] the russian federation the islamic republic of iran and the democratic republic of people's [57:34] republic of korea which are the foremost adversaries of the united states and mitigate [57:39] the risk posed to the united states this democrat [57:42] bill even states that the partnering of these four u.s adversaries quote reinforces threats posed [57:47] by each such adversary individually seems pretty clear to me that the democratic rhetoric is argued [57:53] in favor of cracking down on the brutal iran regime of course until president trump was the [57:57] one to initiate the regime's demise president trump has a duty to protect americans and the [58:02] united states interests both at home and abroad the administration engaged in earnest diplomacy [58:07] to mitigate the iranian threat it became crystal clear however that the iranian regime used the [58:11] diplomatic process to protect the iranian people and to protect the iranian people and to protect [58:12] the iranian forces that angered the iranian people and also the iranian security forces [58:18] that threatened the iranian people and the iranian citizens and the hong kong police and the black [58:22] elite police and the latin x-men and the teen gang and the hong kong police prep board members [58:25] the all in one response to the iranian attack was a significant начинаing on the iranian military [58:31] in the late 1990s when President Trump declared the war would be gone and the iranian military [58:35] would be gone and the iranian war would not be un-progressed and the iranian military would [58:41] be removed and the iranians would be taken away by the iranian national army the iranian military [58:42] in a transparent and forthcoming manner, holding multiple press conferences, and sending his [58:47] Cabinet officials and operational experts to provide multiple classified briefings on [58:51] the status of the ongoing conflict to all members of Congress, as well as appropriate [58:55] committees and their staffs. [58:58] Mr. Speaker, passing the measure today would do nothing to keep America safe. [59:02] It would do nothing to strengthen Congress, and all it would do is put America's safety [59:06] and that of our allies at risk. [59:07] It would allow Iran to once again rebuild its murderous regime and terrorize the world. [59:12] Vote no. [59:13] Thank you, Chairman Mass, for his partnership and his leadership, and I yield the balance [59:15] of my time. [59:16] The gentleman yields. [59:17] Reserved. [59:18] The gentleman reserves. [59:19] The gentleman from New York is recognized. [59:20] Yes, I'm proud to yield two minutes and 30 seconds to the esteemed gentlewoman from the [59:27] great Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the whip of the Democratic caucus, the Honorable Katherine [59:34] Clark. [59:35] The gentlelady is recognized. [59:38] Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding. [59:43] Donald Trump has taken a step forward. [59:44] He has taken America to war without authorization, without explanation, without a strategy or [59:52] an exit plan. [59:53] Six brave service members have already given the ultimate sacrifice. [1:00:00] Others have been wounded, and Americans are stranded across the region. [1:00:06] And what do we hear from our commander in chief? [1:00:10] He shrugs and says, that's the way it is. [1:00:14] Listen, how about that ballroom? [1:00:17] The American people do not want their sons and daughters shipped to another war in the [1:00:22] Middle East when they don't even know what the mission is. [1:00:27] They want a country where their children can do better and reach higher than their parents [1:00:34] did, where they don't just survive but can actually get ahead, where a doctor's appointment [1:00:42] is not a luxury. [1:00:44] And what are they getting instead? [1:00:47] Republicans have been raiding their health care, their social security, their veterans' [1:00:52] benefits, all to enrich the billionaire class. [1:00:57] Illegal tariffs jacking up prices, secret police murdering Americans in the street, [1:01:03] a corrupt DOJ that covers for pedophiles while denying their victims justice. [1:01:12] But today? [1:01:14] Today? [1:01:15] You can stand with Americans who are entitled to know what the objective of this war is, [1:01:23] what the cost will be. [1:01:25] They deserve to know the sacrifice will not just fall on working and military families, [1:01:31] but will be shared by the wealthy and the powerful. [1:01:36] Today you can join us in telling the president that the Constitution is not just a suggestion, [1:01:44] it's a reality. [1:01:45] That our country belongs to its people, to the American people, and that the power to [1:01:52] declare war belongs to the people's representatives. [1:01:58] And that 250 years later, whatever Donald Trump may think, that America still has no [1:02:08] kings. [1:02:09] I yield back. [1:02:10] I yield to the gentleman in the reserves, the gentleman in the reserves, the gentleman [1:02:13] from Florida is recognized. [1:02:14] Mr. Speaker? [1:02:15] I'm pleased to yield four minutes to the gentleman from Alabama, chairman of the Armed [1:02:19] Services Committee, Mr. Rogers. [1:02:21] The gentleman is recognized. [1:02:22] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:02:23] I want to thank the chairman for yielding. [1:02:25] I rise in strong opposition to this resolution. [1:02:29] The intelligence is clear. [1:02:32] Iran was attempting to rebuild its nuclear program. [1:02:36] Iran was developing missiles that could place American bases in the region and our homeland [1:02:42] at risk. [1:02:43] The rapid expansion of Iranian missiles and nuclear weapons is a challenge. [1:02:44] We need to be prepared. [1:02:45] Iran's missiles and drones posed an immediate threat to U.S. forces and partners in the [1:02:52] region. [1:02:53] And Iran's missile and drone arsenal acted as a conventional shield to its nuclear program. [1:02:59] Faced with this threat, the president sought diplomatic solutions. [1:03:04] But the Iranian regime refused to abandon their pursuit of a nuclear weapon. [1:03:08] They refused to limit their ballistic missile arsenal, and they refused to rein in their [1:03:13] terrorist proxies. [1:03:15] Only when it became clear that Iran would not agree to a peaceful resolution did President [1:03:21] Trump take decisive action and lawful action to protect the American people. [1:03:27] As Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth have repeatedly explained, this is a limited military operation [1:03:35] with clearly defined objectives. [1:03:38] Those objectives are, number one, to destroy the Iranian missile, drone, and defense infrastructure [1:03:42] posing a threat to U.S. forces and partners in the region. [1:03:45] Number two, to destroy the Iranian missile, drone, and defense infrastructure posing a threat to U.S. forces and partners in the region. [1:03:46] Number three, to destroy the Iranian missile, drone, and defense infrastructure posing a threat to U.S. forces and partners in the region. [1:03:46] Number three, to destroy the Iranian missile, drone, and defense infrastructure posing a threat to U.S. forces and partners in the region. [1:03:47] Number two, to degrade Iran's industrial capacity to produce additional drones and missiles. [1:03:52] And number three, to destroy Iranian naval assets with the capacity to threaten U.S. forces [1:03:58] and the free flow of commerce through the region. [1:04:03] Achieving these objectives will ensure Iran can no longer threaten the U.S. or our allies. [1:04:10] Past administrations have allowed the threat from Iran to grow and fester to the problem [1:04:14] we have now. [1:04:16] President Trump took decisive action to end the threat and restore the credibility of [1:04:21] American deterrence. [1:04:23] At this time, we should be focused on ensuring our warfighters have the resources and capabilities [1:04:29] they need to succeed in this operation. [1:04:33] We should not pass any resolution that will end this critical operation before achieving [1:04:39] these military objectives. [1:04:41] Doing so would needlessly risk the lives of American service members and American allies. [1:04:46] I ask all members to pray for the safety of our men and women in uniform and honor those [1:04:52] who have made the ultimate sacrifice. [1:04:54] I also urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution and I yield back the balance of my time. [1:04:59] The gentleman yields and the gentleman from Florida reserves. [1:05:03] The gentleman from New York is recognized. [1:05:04] Yeah, I'm happy to yield five minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky and the sponsor [1:05:09] of this important resolution, the honorable Representative Thomas Massey. [1:05:13] The gentleman from Kentucky is recognized. [1:05:14] I thank the gentleman from New York. [1:05:16] Mr. Speaker. [1:05:17] Mr. Speaker. [1:05:18] James Madison wrote to Thomas Jefferson in 1789, the Constitution supposes what the history [1:05:24] of all governments demonstrates, that the executive branch of power is the most interested [1:05:31] in war and most prone to it. [1:05:33] It has accordingly with studied care vested the question of war in the legislature. [1:05:39] The Constitution is clear. [1:05:41] Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 of our Constitution provides Congress initiatory powers of war [1:05:48] to wage war. [1:05:49] Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1 of our Constitution gives the President operational powers of [1:05:54] war to wage that war. [1:05:57] Even if this body were to pretend that the 1973 War Powers Resolution supersedes the [1:06:02] clear language of the Constitution, the President still has not met the conditions required [1:06:08] by that law itself. [1:06:10] The 1973 War Powers Resolution states plainly that the President may only introduce U.S. [1:06:17] armed forces into the United States. [1:06:18] These forces threatened to vie into hostilities, pursuant to three conditions, either one, [1:06:25] declaration of war, two, specific statutory authorization, or three, a national emergency [1:06:31] created by an attack upon the United States. [1:06:33] None of those conditions exists today. [1:06:37] Iran has not attacked the United States, Congress has not declared war, and Congress has not [1:06:41] granted specific statutory authorization. [1:06:45] Beyond the constitutional question, here lies an even more important one. [1:06:48] Why are we going to war with Iran? [1:06:52] We owe our military service members a clear mission. [1:06:56] And American families in my district want to know how this is going to help them pay for groceries. [1:07:02] How does this make them any safer in their schools or in their neighborhoods? [1:07:07] How does this help them pay for housing? [1:07:09] Have we learned nothing from the laundry list of wars and regime change experiments we sparked across the Middle East [1:07:15] that have racked up a total of at least $8 trillion of debt in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan? [1:07:23] A sustained war with Iran will not stabilize the region. [1:07:27] It's already ignited the region. [1:07:30] It will radicalize new generations of terrorists, [1:07:32] and it will send more swarms of refugees into Europe and the United States. [1:07:37] Iran is not Venezuela. [1:07:39] The Ayatollah was not a president. [1:07:41] He was a religious leader from a region notorious for radicalism. [1:07:45] He was a powerful Islamist. [1:07:47] And the United States and Israel turned him into a martyr. [1:07:49] And in the process of doing so, [1:07:52] we've already expended billions of dollars, [1:07:54] and more solemnly, [1:07:56] six American families must now lay to rest their sons and daughters. [1:08:00] And for what? [1:08:02] This administration can't even give us a straight answer [1:08:04] as to why we launched this preemptive war. [1:08:08] The president says we had to strike first [1:08:10] because an Iranian strike was imminent. [1:08:12] Meanwhile, the Department of Defense [1:08:14] conceded there was no evidence [1:08:16] of an imminent Iranian strike. [1:08:18] Some told us this war [1:08:20] was about nuclear weapons. [1:08:22] But six months ago, we were assured [1:08:24] our last strike on Iran decimated [1:08:26] their nuclear program. [1:08:28] So which is it? [1:08:30] I think the most candid answer came from the Secretary of State [1:08:32] who told the press [1:08:34] that Israel forced our hand [1:08:36] and dragged us into this war. [1:08:38] Again. [1:08:42] And that truth is the very reason why [1:08:44] it is Congress that must decide war. [1:08:46] If American lives are to be [1:08:48] risked and American blood is to be shed, [1:08:50] that decision must be debated [1:08:52] and voted on by the representatives [1:08:54] of the American people. [1:08:56] And that debate is meant to be arduous. [1:08:58] And that vote is meant to be hard. [1:09:00] I have a theory. [1:09:02] I think my colleagues don't want to go on record [1:09:04] because we have [1:09:06] a terrible track record [1:09:08] of meddling in the Middle East. [1:09:10] They don't want their name associated [1:09:12] with this when it doesn't turn out well. [1:09:14] But Congress cannot be bothered [1:09:16] with its constitutional duties [1:09:18] because for many in this chamber [1:09:20] it's easier to simply allow [1:09:22] someone else's sons and daughters [1:09:24] to be sent to combat without their vote. [1:09:27] And to be clear, [1:09:29] we aren't even here to declare war today. [1:09:31] All we're voting on is a war powers resolution [1:09:33] to reassert the Constitution. [1:09:35] That Congress must decide questions of war. [1:09:37] And if Congress wants war, [1:09:39] then the Speaker should hold a vote to declare it. [1:09:41] Some say Congress authorizes war [1:09:43] when we pay for it. [1:09:45] When we pass the budget bill. [1:09:47] Here's the problem. [1:09:49] We've taken on the hard work [1:09:51] of defining the mission [1:09:53] for our sons and daughters who are going to fight. [1:09:55] That's not in the budget bill. [1:09:57] It never is. [1:09:59] And to the men and women who are engaged in combat, [1:10:01] I sincerely thank you. [1:10:03] And I pray for your safety. [1:10:06] It is for you that I wrote this resolution. [1:10:08] It is for you that all of us are here [1:10:10] on this floor working so hard [1:10:12] to force this vote [1:10:14] so that you will have a clear mission [1:10:16] that you deserve. [1:10:18] So that you will know when you achieve it, you can come home. [1:10:20] Thank you for your support for this resolution. [1:10:22] And I yield back. [1:10:24] The gentleman from Kentucky yields [1:10:26] and the gentleman from New York reserves. [1:10:29] The gentleman from Florida is recognized. [1:10:31] Thank you Mr. Speaker. [1:10:33] I urge not supporting this resolution [1:10:35] but I am thankful that my colleague [1:10:37] at least started to talk about [1:10:39] that there is an article to authority. [1:10:41] He actually discussed that. [1:10:43] And when is something an emergency? [1:10:45] That's what a real debate can be. [1:10:47] I've laid out very clearly a number of reasons [1:10:49] why I believe in national emergency. [1:10:51] A number of things that have happened. [1:10:53] My colleagues over there said, well something can't be imminent [1:10:55] if it's been going on for years. [1:10:57] To me that would be the definition of imminent [1:10:59] if it's been ongoing for years. [1:11:01] But at least my colleague was willing to have that debate [1:11:03] although I disagree with him [1:11:05] and urge not passing his legislation. [1:11:07] I am pleased to now yield three minutes [1:11:09] to the gentleman from New Jersey, [1:11:11] Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Mr. Smith. [1:11:13] I thank you, the Distinguished Chair, for yielding. [1:11:15] The gentleman is recognized. [1:11:17] Mr. Speaker, for far too long [1:11:19] Iran has held the world hostage [1:11:21] with its nuclear threats, [1:11:23] unbridled violence and hate, [1:11:25] the pervasive use of torture and rape, [1:11:27] and Nazi-like anti-Semitism. [1:11:29] Iran is the world's worst [1:11:31] state sponsor of terrorism. [1:11:33] All diplomatic initiatives [1:11:35] to secure peace, justice and reconciliation [1:11:37] with the Iranian dictatorship [1:11:39] have been fruitless. [1:11:41] President Trump is a man of his word [1:11:43] and means it when he says [1:11:45] Iran must never be permitted [1:11:47] to acquire a nuclear weapon. [1:11:49] Despite ample warnings and admonitions [1:11:51] to negotiate seriously, [1:11:53] which it has never done, [1:11:55] Iran has defied U.S. diplomacy [1:11:57] to end its decades-long quest [1:11:59] to procure nuclear weapons [1:12:01] and cease its despicable violence [1:12:03] against Americans, Israelis [1:12:05] and the Iranians themselves. [1:12:07] Among the many egregious concessions [1:12:10] made in 2015 [1:12:12] by President Obama [1:12:14] to the Iranians was to get a deal [1:12:16] including the removal [1:12:18] of a treaty obligation [1:12:20] that would have ended Iran's missile program [1:12:22] and prevent the production [1:12:24] of ballistic missiles [1:12:26] that are today raining down [1:12:28] on Americans and our military [1:12:30] in the region, the Israeli civilians [1:12:32] and our friends in neighboring countries. [1:12:34] In the debate on the House floor [1:12:36] in 2015, I stood right here [1:12:38] and said Iranian Supreme Leader [1:12:40] Ayatollah Khomeini [1:12:42] criticized the call for Iran [1:12:44] to end its ballistic missile program [1:12:46] characterizing it as [1:12:48] a stupid, idiotic expectation [1:12:50] claiming that the revolution [1:12:52] should definitely carry out [1:12:54] their program and not be satisfied [1:12:56] with the present level of missiles. [1:12:58] Khomeini said they should [1:13:00] mass produce those missiles [1:13:02] and mass produce they have [1:13:04] killing thousands [1:13:06] and putting millions more at risk. [1:13:08] It is estimated that Iran produces [1:13:10] 100 missiles each and every month. [1:13:12] I would remind my colleagues [1:13:14] that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [1:13:16] signed by China, France, [1:13:18] Germany, Russia and the UK [1:13:20] and of course the United States [1:13:22] the P5 plus 1 [1:13:24] had a sunset date of October 18th [1:13:26] 2025. [1:13:28] I remember asking during debate [1:13:30] in committee and on the floor [1:13:32] sunset? Did anyone think that [1:13:35] in 2015 [1:13:37] that Iran would somehow matriculate [1:13:39] from a brutal dictatorship [1:13:41] to a democracy in those 10 years? [1:13:43] I mean that provided the Iranians [1:13:45] the incentive to wait us out [1:13:47] because then everything would be lifted [1:13:49] even in that flawed deal. [1:13:51] Let me also point out to my colleagues [1:13:53] the Trump administration has refused [1:13:55] I say again refused [1:13:57] to have the United States bullied by Iran [1:13:59] and the distinguished chairman before [1:14:01] went through one instance after another [1:14:03] where they have killed Americans [1:14:05] even when they bombed us in Lebanon [1:14:07] there was a young man [1:14:09] in the Marines from my district [1:14:11] who was killed in that brutal act of war [1:14:13] by the Iranian dictatorship. [1:14:15] So I just say I'm against this resolution [1:14:17] may God bless and protect [1:14:19] our courageous service members [1:14:21] as well as the IDF soldiers [1:14:23] who are fighting this tyrannical [1:14:25] Iranian dictatorship [1:14:27] with incredible courage, professionalism [1:14:29] skill and tenacity. [1:14:31] Yield back. [1:14:33] The gentleman from Florida reserves [1:14:35] the gentleman from New York is recognized. [1:14:37] I'm delighted to yield two minutes [1:14:39] to the gentleman from California [1:14:41] the co-sponsor of this important resolution [1:14:43] Representative Ro Khanna. [1:14:45] The gentleman is recognized. [1:14:48] The world needs a new moral vision [1:14:50] America needs a new vision [1:14:52] and a new mandate [1:14:54] and a new society [1:14:56] in which leading militarism [1:14:58] erode the soul of our nation [1:15:00] leading to a regime change war in Iran [1:15:03] and utter human devastation in Gaza. [1:15:05] Simply put we have lost our way [1:15:07] We are back to the law of the jungle [1:15:09] where might makes right [1:15:11] and where the Middle East [1:15:13] descends into a Hobbesian war [1:15:16] of all against all. [1:15:18] President Eisenhower warned [1:15:20] that every warship built [1:15:22] every bomb deployed [1:15:24] gone. A world in arms, he said, is stealing the hopes of our children. Today, this vote on Iran [1:15:31] is not a procedural vote. It is a profoundly moral vote. It is a vote to direct our resources [1:15:41] towards healing our own people, towards health care that saves lives, jobs that restore dignity, [1:15:48] housing that shelters families instead of raining destruction on other nations. It is a vote to [1:15:54] renew an America that leads once more through diplomacy, statesmanship, and principle. An [1:16:00] America that strives to end cycles of violence rather than ignite them. An America that cooperates [1:16:07] with other nations rather than bullying them into submission. An America committed to confronting [1:16:13] child poverty, the climate crisis, and illiteracy to advance our shared humanity. An America that [1:16:19] is respected in the world again. The world needs an America that finds its [1:16:24] moral center, Mr. Speaker. Let us rise to this historic challenge. In this body, let us declare [1:16:31] with courage and clarity that we reject this illegal and unjust war in Iran. Let us choose [1:16:38] moral renewal over further moral decay. Thank you, Mr. Ranking Member. The gentleman yields, [1:16:44] and the gentleman from New York reserves, the gentleman from Florida is recognized. Mr. Speaker, [1:16:49] let me tell you why not to trust what was just said as the gentleman walks out. Here's what he [1:16:57] said. He said, the ongoing nuclear escalation poses a serious threat to the United States and his [1:17:01] partners. That's literally what he voted for. Use all means necessary to prevent Iran from [1:17:06] attaining a nuclear weapon. To me, that seems pretty damn imminent. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased [1:17:12] to yield three minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, [1:17:16] Mr. Self. The gentleman from Texas is recognized. Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. I rise here [1:17:22] in response to my colleague from across the aisle. I thought we were talking about the War Powers [1:17:27] Act and not the Democrat social programs. That's what I'm going to do. President Trump's decision [1:17:32] to strike Iran is not starting a forever war. It's ending a forever war. For half a century, [1:17:39] the Islamic Republic of Iran has cast a shadow over the Middle East and trapped the region in [1:17:43] a dark age. When the regime chants, death to America, death to Israel, they mean it. The [1:17:52] Islamic Republic is responsible for the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands of Americans, [1:17:58] thousands of Israelis. [1:17:59] And tens of thousands of their own people, including up to 30,000 in just the last few [1:18:05] weeks. Iran has slaughtered more Americans than any other terrorist regime in the world, [1:18:11] and they will continue to kill Americans until they are stopped. Iran is the number one sponsor [1:18:17] of terrorism in the world by non-state actors, something that's not even contemplated by the [1:18:22] War Powers Act. The regime funds trains and equips countless Islamic terrorist groups, [1:18:29] including the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the number one [1:18:30] terrorist group that has killed over the last decade, including the Houthi rebels in Yemen, [1:18:31] Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and many others across Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the [1:18:37] region. For years, Iran has leveraged these terrorists to wage war against and kill Americans [1:18:42] and countless civilians throughout the region. Just last weekend, in my home state, a gunman [1:18:48] horrifically killed three innocent people and injured four others in Austin, Texas, [1:18:54] while reportedly wearing a sweatshirt that read Property of Allah and a shirt with the Islamic [1:19:00] Republic of Iran. [1:19:01] flag on it. While law enforcement continues its investigation into [1:19:07] connection with the Islamic Republic, Americans must understand the enemy is [1:19:12] within the gates. The current regime in Iran is the poster child for Islam and [1:19:17] Sharia law, a culture of violence and domination that is totally incompatible [1:19:22] with individual freedoms, our Constitution, and our heritage. Islam is [1:19:27] an existential threat to our Constitutional Republic. By conducting [1:19:32] this joint operation with our partners in the region to defend against tyranny, [1:19:36] we are defending Western civilization. Furthermore, the Iranian people have [1:19:41] overwhelmingly demonstrated a clear will to overthrow and change the radical [1:19:45] regime. Tens of thousands of civilians have sacrificed their lives as a [1:19:50] testimony to this point. By giving the green light to epic fury, President Trump [1:19:56] is giving the Iranian people a fighting chance to win. [1:19:58] As the article 2 branch, the President is undertaking his Constitutional duty as [1:20:09] Commander-in-Chief to defend the United States from a tyrannical, murderous [1:20:13] Islamic regime. Finally, I would also like to note that since the War Powers [1:20:17] Act was enacted, every President, every President, both Republican and Democrat, [1:20:22] has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing [1:20:28] protests, the President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the [1:20:28] President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the [1:20:29] President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the [1:20:30] President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the [1:20:31] President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the [1:20:32] President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the President has argued that this law is unconstitutional. Instead of airing protests, the [1:20:33] focused on reopening the Department of Homeland Security [1:20:36] to prevent tax on American soil, [1:20:39] and support the President in executing his Article 2 duty. [1:20:43] While I agree that this body should engage in discussions [1:20:46] about the War Powers Act, this is not the appropriate time. [1:20:50] U.S. troops are currently in harm's way, [1:20:53] and they need to have our full-throated support full stop. [1:20:57] I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution, [1:21:00] and I yield back. [1:21:02] The gentleman yields on behalf of the Florida Reserves. [1:21:04] The gentleman from New York is recognized. [1:21:06] As I now yield three minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, [1:21:08] an esteemed member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, [1:21:12] Representative Warren Davidson. [1:21:14] The gentleman from Ohio is recognized. [1:21:16] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:21:17] My name is Warren Davidson, [1:21:18] and I love this country with a soldier's passion. [1:21:22] More than 30 years ago, I enlisted in the infantry. [1:21:24] My chain of command later helped me earn an appointment [1:21:27] to the United States Military Academy at West Point. [1:21:29] I was commissioned as an infantry officer [1:21:31] serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment, [1:21:33] the 101st Airborne, Rokhassan's, and the Old Guard. [1:21:37] Then and now, I swore an oath to support and defend [1:21:40] our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. [1:21:44] Make no mistake, Iran is an enemy of the United States. [1:21:48] As our military engages them, they do so justly. [1:21:52] Unfortunately, they are not yet doing so constitutionally, [1:21:57] and that's why we're here today. [1:21:59] For some, this debate will be about [1:22:00] whether we should even be fighting in Iran. [1:22:03] For me, the debate is more fundamental. [1:22:06] Is the President of the United States, [1:22:07] regardless of the person holding the office, [1:22:10] empowered to do whatever he wants? [1:22:13] That's not what our Constitution says. [1:22:16] Is he empowered to do whatever he wants for 60 or 90 days? [1:22:19] That's not what the War Powers Act says. [1:22:22] Is there any limit to executive authority whatsoever? [1:22:26] I rise in support of this War Powers Resolution today [1:22:29] because the moral hazard posed by a government [1:22:32] no longer constrained by our Constitution is a grave threat. [1:22:38] The threat to a government [1:22:39] no longer constrained by the plain meeting of words [1:22:42] is not new for Democrats. [1:22:44] Recall that Democrats needed help answering, [1:22:47] what is a woman? [1:22:49] Unfortunately, Republicans now want to claim [1:22:51] they can't answer, what is a war? [1:22:54] This debate isn't even new. [1:22:56] Democrat President Harry Truman obstructed a vote [1:22:59] on the Korean War, pretending it was instead a quote, [1:23:02] UN police action. [1:23:04] Republican Senator Taft from Ohio insisted in vain [1:23:08] that Congress should not shirk its duty to vote [1:23:11] on declaring war or at least [1:23:13] to authorize the conflict. [1:23:15] Instead, Congress then, as it has in the past, [1:23:19] passively cut checks to fund the war [1:23:22] that they refused to authorize. [1:23:24] This dereliction of duty is commonly mocked [1:23:27] as an example of constitutional avoidance, [1:23:30] and it contributed to the passage of the War Powers Act. [1:23:34] President Trump's America First message was supposed [1:23:36] to be a rejection of the globalist war machine [1:23:40] whose endless wars have left America less free, less safe, [1:23:44] and less burdened by debt. [1:23:46] On the other hand, President Trump has been reluctant [1:23:49] to embrace war and has been incredibly successful [1:23:52] in diplomacy. [1:23:53] In this case, war may well be necessary, [1:23:56] but it is far more pressing that we restore a government [1:23:59] small enough to fit within the Constitution. [1:24:02] We can afford a government that small and no other. [1:24:06] America is a republic, not an empire. [1:24:09] So I encourage everyone to honor their oath [1:24:12] and support our Constitution. [1:24:14] Vote yes on this resolution. [1:24:16] I yield back. [1:24:17] The gentleman from Ohio yields, [1:24:19] and the gentleman from New York reserves. [1:24:20] The gentleman from Florida is recognized. [1:24:22] Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield three minutes [1:24:24] to the gentleman from Michigan, [1:24:25] Chairman of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, [1:24:28] Mr. Huizenga. [1:24:30] The gentleman from Michigan is recognized. [1:24:32] Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to Chairman Mast. [1:24:35] And my friend from Ohio, my Republican friend, knows [1:24:38] I deeply respect him, his service to our country, [1:24:42] and his consistency, frankly. [1:24:44] That's something that we're not seeing from many [1:24:46] of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, [1:24:48] and that is to be commended. [1:24:52] We have a different opinion on whether this is legal or not. [1:24:59] We all know that the reason we are here is that [1:25:03] for nearly half a century, the Iranian regime [1:25:05] has terrorized the globe with acts of cowardly violence [1:25:09] through its own forces and proxy militias, [1:25:11] namely Hamas, the Houthis, the Hezbollah, [1:25:14] whom they have provided military, political, [1:25:16] and diplomatic and monetary aid. [1:25:20] They have killed approximately 1,000 Americans [1:25:23] and maimed thousands of others, both Americans and Arabs, [1:25:26] with roadside bombs and other IEDs. [1:25:29] We've seen all the videos online with drones and missiles [1:25:33] hurtling into malls, hospitals, and hotels. [1:25:36] This has to stop. [1:25:38] During his first term, President Trump imposed [1:25:40] a maximum pressure campaign in response to President Obama's [1:25:46] lack of [1:25:47] action regarding Iran, and that crippled Iran's ability [1:25:51] to raise revenues from its oil operations [1:25:54] and fund their terror network. [1:25:56] How do I know that, Mr. Speaker? [1:25:58] Because as a member of the Financial Services Committee, [1:26:00] where all of those sanctions originated, [1:26:02] I worked on those very sanctions. [1:26:05] However, years later, the Biden administration [1:26:07] found those moves too far and harsh on Iran [1:26:11] and refused to enforce those sanctions. [1:26:14] Sanctions are only as good and useful as their willingness [1:26:17] to enforce them. [1:26:18] During this period, Iranian crude production [1:26:21] topped three million barrels a day, greater by more than [1:26:24] a factor of seven during the maximum pressure campaign, [1:26:28] allowing the Iranian regime to continue to finance [1:26:31] its brutality internationally and domestically. [1:26:34] Congress attempted to reverse course by passing legislation [1:26:37] to codify the maximum pressure campaign measures. [1:26:40] That's why the House of Representatives passed my bill, [1:26:43] the No U.S. Financing for Iran Act, by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, [1:26:46] by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, [1:26:46] by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, [1:26:47] during the 218th Congress, to cut off the Iranian regime [1:26:52] from the U.S. financial system. [1:26:54] My friends who voted for that seem to forget. [1:26:57] My colleagues on the other side of the aisle tend to forget [1:26:59] that the Iranian regime directed an assassination attempt [1:27:03] against the current president of the United States. [1:27:05] And whether you like President Trump or not, [1:27:08] no sitting president should be allowed to be a target [1:27:12] by a foreign country without consequences. [1:27:15] Peace through strength does not mean another open-ended war, [1:27:18] and it is not a matter of the past. [1:27:22] Operation Epic Fury is a defensive action using overwhelming force [1:27:25] to protect the American people from an eminent and growing threat. [1:27:29] Additionally, it cannot be ignored that Iran was producing conventional drones [1:27:33] and ballistic missiles at an alarming rate until just this past weekend, [1:27:38] and to provide a protective layer of defense for its nuclear ambitions [1:27:43] and nuclear weapons development. [1:27:45] The Trump administration has clearly defined... [1:27:49] Sorry, for how long? [1:27:50] Thirty seconds. [1:27:51] The Trump administration has clearly defined the mission, [1:27:53] the objective, and the timeline. [1:27:55] It's notified and briefed Congress on these operations. [1:27:58] Simply put, Iran cannot, under any circumstances, [1:28:01] possess the capabilities for having nuclear weapons. [1:28:06] The Biden administration's official policy towards Iran [1:28:10] summed up in one word, don't. [1:28:13] That phrase underpinned one of the most ineffective [1:28:15] foreign policy agendas in the 21st century. [1:28:18] Give me a break. [1:28:19] I urge my colleagues to vote against this resolution, [1:28:22] hoping to score political points by tying the president's hands [1:28:25] in the face of danger. [1:28:26] It is time that we defend our liberty, [1:28:29] our freedom, our neighbors, and this great nation [1:28:31] in the face of Iran's systematic terror. [1:28:35] With that, I yield back. [1:28:38] Reserve. [1:28:39] The gentleman in reserve, [1:28:40] the gentleman from New York, is recognized. [1:28:41] I'm now proud to yield one minute [1:28:43] to the gentlewoman from California, [1:28:44] the ranking member of the House Financial Service Committee, [1:28:48] the honorable Maxine Waters. [1:28:50] The gentlewoman from California, [1:28:51] is recognized thank you very much i am especially concerned about iran's stockpile of enhanced [1:28:59] uranium which could be used at any time i want you to know that the president has said oh i want that [1:29:11] the nuclear capability of iran had been obliterated however prior to the first trump [1:29:18] administration the u.s was able to monitor the status of iran's uranium under an agreement called [1:29:24] the joint comprehensive plan of action the jpoa the u.s negotiated this agreement with iran in [1:29:30] 2015 but trump withdrew from the jcpoa in 2018. now we have no way to track the status of iran's [1:29:39] dangerous uranium stockpile this war must be stopped i urge my colleagues to vote for the [1:29:45] resolution and lady oats [1:29:49] gentleman from florida is recognized mr speaker i think the last speaker just said [1:29:54] she was worried about iran's uranium stockpile and that it could be used any time [1:30:00] that seems pretty damn imminent to me too i'm pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman [1:30:04] from florida chairman of the subcommittee on oversight and intelligence mr mills gentleman [1:30:09] is recognized thank you mr chairman thank you for speaker the chairman is right we just pointed to [1:30:15] the three key things that you need in order to have lethal force against the united states one [1:30:20] is intent [1:30:22] i think that iran and the regime has made it very clear when they're chanting death to america the [1:30:26] thousands of lives that they've changed with either maiming or killing american troops [1:30:30] or civilians abroad but also likelihood we know that they're able to build 100 plus missiles a [1:30:38] day they know they had icbms we've now found out they had the hypersonic ballistic capabilities [1:30:42] as they've targeted over six different countries but you know the thing that we talk about the jcpoa [1:30:48] as it was just mentioned resolution 2231 where the administration tried to come up with an idea of a [1:30:55] solution that led to diplomatic and peaceful solutions but it was continually violated by this [1:31:01] regime as even the general secretary ban ki-moon and gutierrez had pointed out multiple times [1:31:07] as the iranian regime sent mid-range ballistic missiles to the houthis and into other areas to [1:31:12] continue to attack americans and the west but the hypocrisy is what i really want to point out here [1:31:17] not the fact that we already understand the article 2 authorities that the president has [1:31:22] which is well within the bounds constitutionally not to mention the fact that this [1:31:26] is the first time in my life that i've ever seen a body before i came into congress was already [1:31:30] abdicating the roles and responsibilities under article 1 section 8 clause 11 when they started [1:31:34] doing things like aumfs but let's point to things like what we saw in libya it was very clear in [1:31:42] 2011 as we see here in military intervention that it was without prior congressional authorization [1:31:47] relying instead on a u.n security council resolution and legal justification from the [1:31:52] department of justice that argued that the administration had limited [1:31:56] missions and doesn't constitute hostilities mr chairman that's exactly what we have here no [1:32:02] ground troops but it also goes on further to justify under the united nations mandates [1:32:07] international mandates and legal justification to say that because they were focused on protecting [1:32:13] civilians not sustained fighting and didn't involve ground troops well i don't know about you [1:32:19] but i think 40 plus iranian civilians peacefully protesting for a change being brutally murdered [1:32:27] being raped being [1:32:28] tortured being slaughtered being hung from cranes being persecuted and imprisoned i think president [1:32:34] trump stopping this after 47 years was protecting civilian lives i think it's established that we [1:32:40] had no boots on the ground and i think that we have demonstrated the eminence the likelihood and [1:32:45] intent of an evil regime to try and go ahead and attack americans and threaten our way of life with [1:32:52] that i yield i don't quite reserve yet i would just let the speaker know i think the gentleman [1:32:58] about to speak on the other side [1:33:00] mr raskin also voted to say iran's ongoing nuclear escalation poses a serious threat to the united [1:33:07] states and its partners and to use all means necessary to prevent iran from obtaining a nuclear [1:33:13] weapon he must have thought it was pretty damn imminent too i now reserve german reserves [1:33:20] i proudly yield two minutes to the gentleman from maryland [1:33:25] the ranking member of the house judiciary committee the honorable representative jamie raskin chairman [1:33:32] i thank the speaker and the ranking member yes use all lawful and constitutional means [1:33:39] i heard one of our colleagues across the aisle just say well yes article 1 section 8 clause 11 [1:33:45] does give congress the exclusive plenary comprehensive power to declare war and not [1:33:51] the president and we could be debating it but the president's already taken us to war so it's [1:33:56] too late it would undermine the cause for us to debate it what a humiliating self-denial [1:34:02] defeating argument for a member of the article 1 branch of congress to be making don't you [1:34:07] understand that destroys our power to declare war if any president can plunge us into a war [1:34:14] and thereby defeat our exclusive plenary power over it the framers weren't fooling around when [1:34:22] they did that they knew that the kings were constantly plunging their people into wars of [1:34:27] deception conceit plunder imperial avarice [1:34:32] fantasy constantly the kings were doing that they didn't want to leave it up to one person [1:34:37] to decide whether or not to send a whole country into war and to put our sons and daughters at risk [1:34:43] that is an awesome solemn responsibility that must be vested in the representatives of the people [1:34:49] all the people which is why both the house and the senate are involved in it so whether you think [1:34:55] this is this war is the most brilliant uh strategic breakthrough and moral cause since [1:35:03] the first world war ii or you think it's an absolute strategic blunder built on lies like [1:35:10] the last wars in iraq or the war in afghanistan which cost thousands of lives and more than [1:35:16] trillion dollars wherever you are on that policy question can we not agree as members of the [1:35:23] article 1 branch that it's up to us we've got to vote on it we've got to debate on it i'm hearing [1:35:28] very interesting good arguments all over the spectrum on this that's why it's right and wrong [1:35:33] it's our decision everybody should be voting yes on this resolution [1:35:50] gentleman from new york reserve chairman for florida is recognized mr speaker i've heard it [1:35:54] brought up many times that we get to vote to declare war we do but it is enshrined in the [1:35:59] constitution that the president gets to defend the united states of america because of national [1:36:06] security and the war on iraq it's not just about the war it's about our national security [1:36:10] these kind of emergencies that the last gentleman voted to say use all means necessary to prevent [1:36:16] iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon that seems like an emergency to me i am pleased to yield [1:36:21] three minutes to the gentleman from new york chairman of the subcommittee on middle east and [1:36:24] north africa mr lawler thank you mr chairman and thank you mr speaker this past weekend president [1:36:31] trump launched military operations against the terrorist iranian regime alongside our ally israel [1:36:37] top lieutenants in the IRGC and the Council of Clerics. [1:36:43] This operation came after almost a year of negotiations to reach a diplomatic solution [1:36:48] to end Iran's nuclear ambitions, its ballistic missiles program, and funding of terrorism. [1:36:55] But time and again, we were left empty-handed because of the regime's unwillingness to [1:37:02] honestly negotiate in good faith. [1:37:05] After exhausting all potential diplomatic means, only then did the President initiate [1:37:10] Operation Epic Fury. [1:37:11] And it's also important to point out that this engagement is not a new war. [1:37:17] The Iranian regime has been at war with America for 47 years. [1:37:23] They have been attacking Americans, our military, and our allies and our partners. [1:37:31] They advocate for death to America. [1:37:34] They hate us. [1:37:36] They hate America. [1:37:37] They hate Israel. [1:37:38] They hate Europe. [1:37:39] They hate the West. [1:37:40] They massacre their own people for simple public dissent and peaceful protest. [1:37:48] They send money to Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other terror proxies around the world with [1:37:53] the express interest of killing Americans and Israelis. [1:37:58] They funded the October 7th terrorist attack that murdered and kidnapped not just Israelis [1:38:03] but Americans. [1:38:06] And now the Ayatollah and his conspirators paid the ultimate price. [1:38:11] This is the maximum pressure campaign President Trump advocated for. [1:38:17] This is how we secure our national security so that Americans can be free and safe and [1:38:24] our allies in the Middle East be free and safe. [1:38:29] The long-term strategic benefits here in regards to peace and stability are immense. [1:38:35] The only way to ensure peace and economic prosperity in the Middle East is to eliminate [1:38:42] the single greatest threat to it. [1:38:46] As far as the War Powers Act goes, the president is fully compliant. [1:38:52] Congress was notified. [1:38:54] Congress was briefed. [1:38:55] The fact is, the president has 60 to 90 days to conduct this operation. [1:39:03] And if Congress sees fit at that time, we will address it. [1:39:07] But to try and unilaterally end this operation puts our national security at risk, puts our [1:39:13] troops at risk. [1:39:16] And puts our allies at risk. [1:39:20] Iran is belligerently striking Arab partners as we speak, hitting civilian sites, trying [1:39:26] to kill American soldiers. [1:39:28] And in fact, they have killed six. [1:39:33] Many of my colleagues said nothing when Barack Obama engaged in a seven-month campaign in [1:39:38] Libya. [1:39:39] And in fact, when a War Powers resolution was on this floor, when a War Powers resolution [1:39:45] was on this floor, many opposed it, including Chuck Schumer. [1:39:48] The Senate... [1:39:49] Minority leader. [1:39:50] The gentleman's time has expired. [1:39:51] Thirty seconds, please. [1:39:52] The gentleman recognized for 30 seconds more. [1:39:53] The fact is that when you look back, presidents of both parties have acted under Article II [1:40:01] and without the express authorization of Congress. [1:40:04] And the former speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said it best when she said that Barack Obama could [1:40:10] conduct the operation in Libya for seven months and did not require congressional authority. [1:40:16] Stop being hyper-partisan hypocrites. [1:40:19] And acknowledge the simple fact the president is legally justified. [1:40:24] Vote no on this War Powers resolution. [1:40:28] Chairman of the Reserves, members are reminded to direct your comments to the chair. [1:40:33] The gentleman from New York is recognized. [1:40:34] And I'm honored to yield two minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut, the ranking member [1:40:39] of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Jim Hines. [1:40:42] The gentleman is recognized. [1:40:45] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:40:46] And I thank the chairman for the recognition. [1:40:49] I've been listening closely to this debate. [1:40:51] I've been listening to this debate since it began. [1:40:54] The arguments being made by half of the representatives of the people of the United States, the arguments [1:41:00] as to why they should abrogate their constitutionally mandated duty are bizarre to me. [1:41:08] Most of the arguments have been something that is not an argument, that Iran is evil, [1:41:12] that they hate the U.S., that they mean us ill. [1:41:15] The majority will find no argument over here that that is true. [1:41:18] But oddly enough, the founders, when they wrote the Constitution, they didn't say, you shall [1:41:22] never, only when it's not clear that the belligerent is evil or means us ill. [1:41:27] It was a categorical demand that the representatives of the people, because blood and treasure [1:41:33] would be consumed, that the representatives of the people not just be informed, but that [1:41:39] they provide authorization. [1:41:41] Now, I've heard the majority say that the danger was imminent. [1:41:45] I'm the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee. [1:41:47] And I can tell you with authority that in the last 10 years, Iran's ability to create [1:41:53] mayhem, while still very substantial, is at an ebb. [1:41:57] The president himself said that the nuclear capabilities were obliterated. [1:42:01] His word. [1:42:02] Hezbollah has been largely rolled up in Beirut by the Lebanese armed forces. [1:42:07] We have a pretty good sense of what the Houthis are capable of and how to counter them. [1:42:11] So if the argument is imminent, that's absurd. [1:42:15] There was no imminent threat to the United States Friday or Saturday of last week. [1:42:20] And by the way, the argument that my friend from New York just made, [1:42:23] which is that Obama did it, that's beyond absurd. [1:42:27] I wasn't here when Obama did it. [1:42:29] We weren't asked to vote on it. [1:42:31] But I remember telling the vice president at the time that our Constitution demands congressional assent. [1:42:39] Congress was not notified. [1:42:43] It was not brief. [1:42:44] But that doesn't matter. [1:42:46] What matters is that the Constitution is clear that with six dead Americans, [1:42:51] with our treasure being consumed, we must approve this action. [1:42:55] The gentleman's time is expired. [1:42:57] Vote yes. [1:42:58] Thirty more seconds. [1:43:01] It's not about informing. [1:43:02] And by the way, this Congress was not informed. [1:43:04] Eight members of this Congress were informed. [1:43:07] It is about, and set aside, if you will, for a moment, the Constitution. [1:43:11] Should the representatives of the people authorize an action that will kill many of those people [1:43:19] and that will consume blood and treasure? [1:43:21] Our framers certainly said the answer to that question is yes. [1:43:24] Let's not abrogate our constitutional duty or our constitutional power. [1:43:27] Vote yes on this resolution. [1:43:29] I yield back. [1:43:30] Gentleman yields. [1:43:31] Gentleman from New York. [1:43:34] Gentleman from New York. [1:43:38] Reserves. [1:43:39] Reserves. [1:43:40] Gentleman from Florida is recognized. [1:43:41] Let's poke a few holes in the intelligence ranker's story here. [1:43:45] Adeneb, they've been knocking jets off our aircraft carriers. [1:43:51] They've been attacking in places like Syria and Iraq. [1:43:54] They killed three U.S. service members at Tower 22 in Jordan. [1:43:57] But he can say it's Adeneb. [1:43:59] And let's poke one more hole in this as ranker of the Intelligence Committee. [1:44:02] He did not vote. [1:44:03] To say that Iran's ongoing nuclear escalation poses a serious threat to the United States [1:44:09] and his partners. [1:44:10] That seems like an odd thing that the ranker of the Intelligence Committee wouldn't vote [1:44:14] for. [1:44:15] I'm pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Barr. [1:44:19] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:44:22] I rise in strong opposition to this dangerous and misguided war powers resolution that would [1:44:27] weaken our country and serve as a gift to our enemies. [1:44:31] The radical terrorist regime in Tehran. [1:44:33] The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. [1:44:36] Has targeted and killed thousands of Americans since 1979. [1:44:40] The United States, Israel, and all of our allies are safer because the Ayatollah is dead. [1:44:46] Since the taking of our hostages from our embassy in 1979 to the infamous 1983 Beirut barracks bombing [1:44:54] that killed 241 U.S. Marines. [1:44:57] To the attack on the USS Cole that left 37 Navy sailors dead. [1:45:01] To the maiming and killing of U.S. troops. [1:45:02] To the maiming and killing of thousands of U.S. military members during the global war [1:45:06] on terrorism. [1:45:07] The Iranian terrorist regime has always posed a grievous threat to the United States and [1:45:12] Operation Epic Fury is neutralizing that threat and it's been a tremendous success. [1:45:17] President Trump promised that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. [1:45:20] He is acting on that promise to make the world a safer place. [1:45:23] And he is complying with the law in doing so. [1:45:26] Not just in complying with the notification requirements of the war powers resolution. [1:45:30] Not only through the consultation provisions. [1:45:33] And not only with routinely updating the Congress. [1:45:36] But also under the Commander in Chief powers. [1:45:38] As a legal matter, the President of the United States doesn't need the permission of Congress [1:45:44] to engage in hostilities to protect the American people. [1:45:47] The Commander in Chief clause gives the President the exclusive power to command the military [1:45:52] and operations approved by Congress. [1:45:54] And it also gives the President substantial independent power to direct military operations [1:45:59] so long as the President does not infringe on the exclusive powers of the Congress. [1:46:04] And what are the exclusive powers of Congress? [1:46:06] The declaration power. [1:46:07] We have been silent on that. [1:46:09] And appropriations. [1:46:10] The power of the purse. [1:46:11] This Congress has appropriated funds to defend the country. [1:46:15] And we increased appropriations through the reconciliation bill this year. [1:46:19] The NDAA is the policy of this Congress which identifies Iran as a threat to our country. [1:46:26] The Constitution was clear that Congress has the sole authority over Iran. [1:46:29] It has the sole authority to declare war. [1:46:31] Which changes the legal status of the country. [1:46:33] But the framers did not think that the language meant that the President and Congress have [1:46:38] to work together all the time to turn the keys of the war power. [1:46:43] The founders were practical men. [1:46:45] They understood that Congress is slow to act. [1:46:48] And Alexander Hamilton argued in Federalist 70 that energy in the executive is essential [1:46:55] for national security. [1:46:56] Unity. [1:46:57] Secrecy. [1:46:58] Dispatch and decision. [1:46:59] They said that a single President is vital for defending the country. [1:47:04] So Congress's real power is not just the declaration power. [1:47:07] It's the power of the purse. [1:47:09] So if my friends want to constrain the President, they have the authority to do it through the [1:47:13] appropriations process. [1:47:14] They do not have the constitutional authority to constrain the President from defending [1:47:19] this country and defending our national security, advancing our national security, and ridding [1:47:25] the world of this menace. [1:47:26] I yield back. [1:47:27] Kevin Yields. [1:47:28] Reserve. [1:47:29] New York. [1:47:30] I now yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from California, the House Florida Affairs [1:47:35] Committee, ranking member on the Africa Subcommittee, Representative Sarah Jacobs. [1:47:39] Thank you, Mr. Ranking Member. [1:47:41] I rise today as a voice for my generation and for my community in San Diego, the biggest [1:47:48] military community in our country. [1:47:50] When Presidents from both sides of the aisle have taken military action, it's our service [1:47:56] members, our young people, who are sent into harm's way. [1:47:59] They sacrifice their bodies, their mental health, their time with their loved ones, [1:48:04] and even their lives for us. [1:48:08] And while they're willing to make those sacrifices, we in Congress should be damn sure it's worth [1:48:13] it. [1:48:14] And too often, it's not. [1:48:17] Too often, wars last longer and cost more than promised. [1:48:21] Too often, regime change plans go awry, like we've already seen with the deaths of six [1:48:27] service members, hundreds of civilian deaths, and rising gas prices. [1:48:30] My colleagues will try to claim that voting for this War Power Resolution hurts our service [1:48:36] members. [1:48:37] But the opposite is true. [1:48:39] We owe our service members a real debate before we send them into harm's way. [1:48:44] Voting yes is a vote for our military, to ensure that their sacrifices won't be in vain. [1:48:53] And if any of my colleagues vote no, they should come to my district, look our service [1:48:59] members in the eye. [1:49:00] And explain why they believe debating before we risk their lives is a bad thing. [1:49:07] I hope every single one of my colleagues votes yes on this War Power Resolution for our service [1:49:13] members. [1:49:14] I yield back. [1:49:15] So it yields. [1:49:16] We come from New York. [1:49:17] Reserves. [1:49:19] Reserves. [1:49:20] We come from Florida. [1:49:21] Reserves. [1:49:22] Reserves. [1:49:23] Reserves. [1:49:24] Reserves. [1:49:25] Reserves. [1:49:26] Reserves. [1:49:27] Reserves. [1:49:28] Reserves. [1:49:30] Reserves. [1:49:31] Reserves. [1:49:32] Reserves. [1:49:33] Reserves. [1:49:34] Reserves. [1:49:35] Reserves. [1:49:36] Reserves. [1:49:38] Reserves. [1:49:39] Reserves. [1:49:40] Reserves. [1:49:41] Reserves. [1:49:42] Reserves. [1:49:43] Reserves. [1:49:44] Reserves. [1:49:45] Reserves. [1:49:46] Reserves. [1:49:47] Reserves. [1:49:48] Reserves. [1:49:50] Reserves. [1:49:51] Reserves. [1:49:52] Reserves. [1:49:53] Reserves. [1:49:55] Reserves. [1:49:56] Reserves. [1:49:57] Reserves. [1:49:58] Reserves. [1:49:59] Reserves. [1:50:00] Reserves. [1:50:01] Reserves. [1:50:02] Reserves. [1:50:03] where I participated in putting together a joint U.S.-Iraqi interagency team [1:50:09] to suppress Iranian-backed militia groups in Baghdad. [1:50:14] These were very, very bad guys. [1:50:17] One of the things that they did was use what's called an explosive-formed penetrator. [1:50:23] Al-Qaeda and the Sunni groups would bake a lot of explosives on their roof and make big bombs. [1:50:28] What the Iranians would do was make a special kind of bomb [1:50:31] with a copper plate that would get an explosive, and it could punch right through our armor. [1:50:37] One day, on a trip to Sadr City, I watched a massive, what's called an MRAP, [1:50:46] armored personnel carrier, explode in front of me from an Iranian bomb [1:50:51] and watched as that hulking metal burned to a crisp [1:50:55] as American servicemen and women sought to deal with the aftermath. [1:51:01] This terrorist regime has killed thousands. [1:51:04] Thousands of the countrymen killed Americans across the Middle East, [1:51:08] and it's time for them to come to an end. [1:51:11] This is a partisan political maneuver by the Democrats, [1:51:15] and they should be ashamed for what they're doing to put our servicemen and women in danger. [1:51:20] And with that, I yield back. [1:51:22] Chairman Yields. [1:51:23] Reserve. [1:51:24] Chairman Flaherty, reserves. [1:51:25] Chairman from New York is recognized. [1:51:27] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:51:28] I just want to remind the gentleman this is a massive bill. [1:51:31] Yes, I yield one minute to the gentleman from New York. [1:51:35] Representative Jerry Nadler. [1:51:37] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:51:38] I rise in strong support of this resolution [1:51:40] and of reasserting Congress' constitutional responsibility. [1:51:45] As a gentleman from Florida stated, [1:51:47] the president has the power to react to an attack on the United States. [1:51:50] He does not have the power to start a war. [1:51:53] President Trump's illegal strikes against Iran are dragging the United States [1:51:57] into another costly war in the Middle East. [1:51:59] To be clear, I shed no tears over the Ayatollah's death. [1:52:04] His brutality was responsible for the devastation, [1:52:06] the deaths of scores of his own people, [1:52:08] and he directed terrorist proxies around the world. [1:52:11] But his removal is unlikely to bring about the revolution [1:52:14] and regime change the president seeks. [1:52:16] We had a diplomatic agreement with Iran [1:52:19] that did contain their nuclear threat with constant verification. [1:52:23] But President Trump tore up that agreement. [1:52:26] This unnecessary attack is a clear violation of the Constitution. [1:52:29] Kings often plunge the nations into wars for plunder or avarice. [1:52:34] The Constitution gave the power to decide on war [1:52:36] and peace to Congress so that no president could act as a king. [1:52:40] That is precisely what the president is doing. [1:52:42] We must pass this resolution to chastise President Trump [1:52:46] and to reassert what the Constitution provides, [1:52:48] that only Congress can decide to commit this nation to war. [1:52:52] I urge members to vote yes and I yield back. [1:52:54] The gentleman's time has expired. [1:52:56] Members are reminded to refrain from engaging [1:52:58] in personalities against the president. [1:53:02] The gentleman from New York reserves. [1:53:03] The gentleman from Florida has recognized. [1:53:05] I inquire how much time each side has left. [1:53:07] The gentleman from Florida has failed. [1:53:10] The gentleman from New York has 15 minutes remaining. [1:53:12] And the gentleman from New York has 21 minutes remaining. [1:53:14] Very good. [1:53:15] Pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Fine. [1:53:19] Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:53:22] You know, I believe in symbolic things at times. [1:53:25] It was 47 years ago that Iran began chanting death to America. [1:53:30] I don't think it's symbolic that the 47th president [1:53:33] of the United States is the first to do something about it. [1:53:36] But only one number away from that is 46. [1:53:40] And that's the number of Americans that, [1:53:43] thanks to Iran, were killed on October the 7th, 2023. [1:53:48] I don't think Iran had a meeting where they debated [1:53:52] whether they should support Hamas to go and do that attack. [1:53:56] They did it, and now we are in the position that we are in. [1:54:01] You know, there was a press conference not too long ago [1:54:04] where the speaker was asked, [1:54:05] you're saying that the president did not need authorization initially [1:54:08] and still does not need any authorization from Congress. [1:54:12] And the speaker of the House answered that question yes. [1:54:15] That was Nancy Pelosi when asked about an attack on Libya. [1:54:20] President Trump is doing exactly what he is authorized to do, [1:54:23] protecting the United States by making sure a terrorist regime [1:54:28] cannot attack us using nuclear weapons. [1:54:31] And while there may be some who want to wait [1:54:33] until we're nuked to have that discussion, [1:54:36] I'm not one of them. [1:54:37] I support the president. I support his judgment. [1:54:40] He has not let us . . . . . . . . . do anything. [1:54:41] let us down, he has defined the mission in clear, compelling, and concise ways to make [1:54:46] sure they don't get nukes, to make sure they can't develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, [1:54:50] and to make sure they don't have a military shield to support them as they do that. [1:54:54] We don't have to have a debate before he does that sort of thing. [1:54:58] That's what our framers intended. [1:55:00] And the fact of the matter is I wouldn't trust some of the people in this room to have that [1:55:04] debate if we wanted to put handcuffs around him before he did that. [1:55:09] The President is doing the right thing. [1:55:10] We should stand by him. [1:55:12] We should trust Trump because he's not letting us down and he won't let us down. [1:55:15] Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back. [1:55:17] Chairman Yields? [1:55:18] Reserved. [1:55:19] Chairman from Florida, reserved. [1:55:20] Chairman from New York is recognized. [1:55:21] I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Texas, the House Foreign Affairs Committee's [1:55:25] ranking member on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Honorable Representative Joaquin Castro. [1:55:30] Chairman is recognized. [1:55:32] Americans do not want and cannot afford another war in the Middle East. [1:55:37] On Saturday morning, Americans won. [1:55:38] Americans woke up to the shocking news that our nation was at war again in the Middle [1:55:43] East. [1:55:44] There was no public justification, no vote to authorize this war in Congress. [1:55:49] And why this war? [1:55:50] Why now? [1:55:52] If they say it's about Iran developing a nuclear weapon, well, just last year, President Trump [1:55:57] claimed Iran's nuclear program had been completely and totally obliterated. [1:56:02] In fact, Iran is further from perfecting a nuclear weapon now than it's been in years. [1:56:08] Some claim it's a disabled nation. [1:56:09] They claim it's a modern country. [1:56:10] Some claim it's a war zone. [1:56:12] Some claim it's a war zone. [1:56:13] Some claim it's a war zone. [1:56:14] Some claim it's a war zone. [1:56:15] But Iran doesn't have a single ballistic missile that can reach the mainland United States, [1:56:17] and we don't expect them to for many years. [1:56:21] Is this about terrorism? [1:56:23] It's true that Iran has helped finance and supply groups like Hamas and Hezbollah over [1:56:27] the years. [1:56:28] But they, too, are much weaker, much less capable after two years of conflict. [1:56:34] So why now? [1:56:35] Well, Secretary Rubio told us himself, he said that Israel was going to strike Iran, which would have triggered Iran's power. [1:56:41] would have triggered Iranian strikes [1:56:42] on U.S. forces in the region. [1:56:44] But rather than pick up the phone [1:56:46] and tell Benjamin Netanyahu to stand down, [1:56:49] the President of the United States buckled [1:56:52] and decided to join their war. [1:56:54] How is this America first? [1:56:58] For 25 years, a generation of American service members [1:57:02] and their families have sacrificed so much [1:57:05] because of regime change wars in the Middle East. [1:57:09] President Trump is now asking yet another generation [1:57:11] of Americans to sacrifice in the hope that this time [1:57:15] it will go differently than Iraq, Afghanistan, or Libya. [1:57:20] This is Donald Trump's war. [1:57:22] This is Benjamin Netanyahu's war. [1:57:25] Your vote today will determine whether this is your war, too. [1:57:29] I urge you to support this resolution, and I yield back. [1:57:33] Reserve. [1:57:35] And for New York Reserve, [1:57:35] the gentleman from Florida is recognized. [1:57:36] Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield two minutes [1:57:38] to the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Van Drew. [1:57:42] Let's be clear about what's happening right now. [1:57:45] The United States is confronting a regime [1:57:48] that has spent decades, decades chanting death to America, [1:57:53] a regime whose proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, [1:57:58] just to name a few, has been responsible for the deaths [1:58:01] of hundreds and hundreds of American troops, [1:58:04] a regime that is working relentlessly towards a nuclear weapon. [1:58:09] A nuclear-armed Iran would not just threaten the Middle East. [1:58:13] It would threaten the entire world. [1:58:15] And yes, civilization as we know it. [1:58:17] And now, at the very moment when decisive action is being taken [1:58:21] to dismantle a threat, this resolution would tie the hands [1:58:25] of the President of the United States. [1:58:28] We should not allow this to happen. [1:58:30] We cannot allow this to happen. [1:58:32] Decisive action against the Iranian regime is [1:58:36] about protecting America and about protecting Americans. [1:58:39] It's about protecting our troops stationed across the Middle East. [1:58:43] It is about protecting our troops stationed across the Middle East. [1:58:44] It is about protecting our troops stationed across the Middle East. [1:58:44] protecting our citizens abroad and our allies in the region. [1:58:49] Iran, I'll say it again, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. [1:58:55] For too long, the Iranian regime has acted with impunity as it murders its own people, [1:59:01] tortures its own people, destroys its own people. [1:59:04] There's simply no justification for allowing this regime and its leaders to continue to [1:59:11] exist. [1:59:12] America, America will not wait to be hit first. [1:59:17] We will not gamble with American lives. [1:59:21] We will not allow the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism to obtain the most dangerous [1:59:27] weapon on the face of the earth. [1:59:30] For that reason, I urge my colleagues to vote no on this resolution. [1:59:34] Reserved. [1:59:36] Chairman Flaherty, reserved. [1:59:37] Chairman from New York is recognized. [1:59:38] I yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona, Representative Yasmeen Ansari. [1:59:43] Thank you. [1:59:43] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:59:45] The Islamic Republic is a barbaric, corrupt regime that has murdered, imprisoned and terrorized [1:59:50] its own people for decades. [1:59:52] As the daughter of Iranian immigrants who fled this regime, I know personally what its [1:59:56] violence means. [1:59:57] Members of my family and friends have been brutalized and murdered by the Islamic Republic. [2:00:02] My grandfather was imprisoned by the regime and my family member was beheaded by them. [2:00:07] The horror stories go on. [2:00:09] So let me be very clear. [2:00:11] I have spent my entire life opposing the Islamic Republic. [2:00:13] And it's brutality, and I celebrate the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. [2:00:15] At the same time, as an American congresswoman who swore an oath to the United States Constitution, [2:00:22] I am deeply concerned by President Trump's decision to launch an illegal war—because [2:00:26] it is, in fact, illegal—against Iran without congressional authorization and without presenting [2:00:31] a clear plan to the American people. [2:00:34] War carries profound and deadly consequences for our troops, for the American people, and [2:00:40] for the whole world. [2:00:41] It will be the only time in our history. [2:00:42] I will continue to do my part. [2:00:43] people and for the entire world. It's the most serious decision that a nation can make and the [2:00:48] American people deserve debate, transparency, and accountability before that decision is made. [2:00:53] The Constitution is clear. The power to declare war rests with Congress. I want nothing more than [2:01:00] a free Iran and safety and security for innocent Iranians. That requires more than force. It [2:01:07] requires seriousness, accountability, and a real plan to support the Iranian people in determining [2:01:13] their own future. Donald Trump has shown at every instance that freedom for the people of Iran is [2:01:19] not his priority. Every few hours the administration jumps to a new justification or objective for this [2:01:26] war, but never is a democratic transition and self-determination for Iranians a part of the [2:01:31] discussion. This was echoed last night by senior administration officials at the briefing to [2:01:37] members of Congress. Ultimately, this vote is about the legitimacy of our democracy, [2:01:43] and of our Constitution, and that is why I will be voting yes on the War Powers Resolution. [2:01:48] Senator Yilts. [2:01:49] Senator Yilts. [2:01:51] The gentleman from New York reserves. [2:01:52] The gentleman from Florida is recognized. [2:01:53] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I reserve again, I would just invite the previous speaker to [2:01:58] explain if Iran posed an emergency, an existential threat to America. I'd be happy to hear it, [2:02:03] but I reserve. [2:02:06] The gentleman reserves. [2:02:09] The gentleman from New York. [2:02:10] I now yield one minute and 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Minnesota, Representative [2:02:14] Ilhan Omar. [2:02:15] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [2:02:16] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [2:02:17] Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this resolution. Donald Trump is unilaterally dragging [2:02:23] this nation into an illegal and unjustified war with Iran. As someone who survived the [2:02:30] horrors of war, I know that bombs do not build peace or create stability. Military strikes [2:03:15] will not make us safer. They will inflame tensions and push the region further into [2:03:22] chaos. [2:03:23] Every time we abandon diplomacy, we choose destruction. We know who will bear the costs [2:03:30] of this decision, innocent civilians caught in the crossfire and young service members [2:03:35] sent into harm's way. The American people are exhausted by endless wars built on false [2:03:42] promises and paid for with American and foreign lives. Congress must reassert its constitutional [2:03:51] authority. I urge my colleagues to vote. [2:03:53] yes, to stop U.S. involvement in another illegal forever war. [2:03:59] Thank you, and I yield back. [2:04:00] THE PRESIDENT. [2:04:02] Kennedy Yilts. [2:04:03] Chairman from New York Reserves. [2:04:04] Chairman from Florida is recognized. [2:04:05] SECRETARY POMPEO. [2:04:06] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [2:04:07] I heard the same comments about Venezuela, but no forever war there, and that did bring [2:04:10] peace and stability to the Venezuelan people. [2:04:13] So I guess we're proving the previous comments wrong. [2:04:16] I'm pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Miller. [2:04:19] MR. [2:04:21] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:04:22] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [2:04:23] I stand today in strong opposition to this resolution. [2:04:26] Directing President Trump to withdraw combat operations in Iran is not only foolish, it's [2:04:30] dangerous. [2:04:31] Pulling back now will solidify the regime's brutal grip on the great people of Iran and [2:04:35] put the American troops in grave danger. [2:04:38] My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are claiming we must pass this resolution [2:04:42] because President Trump acted without an imminent threat to the U.S. forces in the region. [2:04:47] Are we serious? [2:04:48] No imminent threat? [2:04:49] Okay. [2:04:50] Iran and its proxies have been soaking themselves. [2:04:53] Okay. [2:04:53] Iran was in American blood for nearly 50 years. [2:04:57] Are we to believe that their, one, ballistic missile program isn't dangerous, two, their [2:05:02] nuclear program isn't anything, or three, their vast proxy network of terrorists all [2:05:08] over the world, that's not an imminent threat to U.S. forces? [2:05:12] Our veterans know the answer to that question. [2:05:15] They unlike most of us have been fighting Iran well before the start of Operation Epic [2:05:19] Fury. [2:05:20] They've been under imminent threat for decades. [2:05:22] Attack. [2:05:23] Iran and its proxies have seldom passed up an opportunity to kill Americans, and the [2:05:28] other side of the aisle knows it. [2:05:30] The President is well within his Article II authorities to defend U.S. forces from needless [2:05:34] bloodshed. [2:05:35] To do so, Iran's offensive military capabilities must be destroyed. [2:05:40] This is not a war of choice. [2:05:42] This is an intervention to prevent a future full-scale war in the Middle East that we [2:05:46] must avoid. [2:05:48] President Trump knows this, and so do my colleagues on the other side, but the difference is that [2:05:52] President Trump has the foresight to make this happen. [2:05:53] He has the foresight to make this difficult but prudent decision. [2:05:57] As we debate in this chamber, our military is quickly dismantling the Iranian threat, [2:06:02] and when this is all over soon, we will be much safer for it. [2:06:05] God bless and protect our armed forces, and our prayers are with the fallen and their [2:06:09] families. [2:06:10] We are able to stand here today because of generations of their sacrifice. [2:06:15] Semper Fidelis. [2:06:16] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [2:06:17] I yield back. [2:06:18] Chairman Yields. [2:06:19] Reserve. [2:06:20] Chairman of the Reserves. [2:06:21] Chairman from New York. [2:06:22] I'm proud to yield two minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts. [2:06:23] The ranking member on the House Rules Committee, Representative Jim McGovern. [2:06:27] Chairman's recognized. [2:06:29] Mr. Speaker, nobody is defending the Ayatollah. [2:06:33] There is no love lost for a brutal government that sponsors terror and murders their people. [2:06:38] Iran has been doing this for decades. [2:06:40] Everybody knows that. [2:06:42] And so my question is this. [2:06:43] Why wasn't Donald Trump in favor of regime change until this weekend? [2:06:47] Why did he campaign on swearing he would never send American kids to fight and die in the [2:06:53] Middle East? [2:06:54] Republicans can't answer because they were against war with Iran until exactly the second [2:06:59] Donald Trump decided to go to war. [2:07:02] And now they're all running around sounding like neocon lunatics. [2:07:06] America can't take this level of gaslighting. [2:07:09] I went to the classified briefing. [2:07:11] There was no imminent threat. [2:07:13] I guess unless Republicans want to redefine the word imminent to mean stretching back [2:07:18] 47 years. [2:07:20] This whole thing is just so transparently built on lies. [2:07:22] I don't know. [2:07:23] I don't know. [2:07:24] I don't know. [2:07:25] And I hope that The President's party is not. [2:07:26] I do not know. [2:07:27] I've gone through a lot of lies. [2:07:28] Republicans went from imminent threat to regime change to nukes back to imminent threat in [2:07:29] the last 24 hours. [2:07:30] I'll tell you, I'll tell you what this is, Mr. Speaker. [2:07:34] This is Iraq 2.0. [2:07:36] I still remember the lies about wmd's. [2:07:39] I voted against that war, too. [2:07:41] At least George bush had the decency to lie to people's face. [2:07:44] And by the way, no congressional vote can legitimize this because there was no imminent [2:07:50] threat. [2:07:51] There was no UN Security Council Resolution. [2:07:53] So this war is illegal no matter what you want to call it. [2:07:57] And it's not Donald Trump's kids that will have to go fight and die for their draft-dodging [2:08:01] dad. [2:08:02] It's not the children of the billionaire Epstein class. [2:08:05] It's working class kids who are going to put their lives on the line. [2:08:09] Shame on Republicans. [2:08:11] I'm sick of this BS. [2:08:13] We're spending billions of dollars a day on a war and we can't even get Republicans to [2:08:17] join us to expand health care in America. [2:08:20] How the hell is this America first? [2:08:22] You guys broke your top campaign promise. [2:08:25] Good luck with that. [2:08:26] I hope the defense contractor money was worth it. [2:08:29] Shame on you all. [2:08:31] The mask is off. [2:08:33] You're all just a bunch of pathetic, neocon warmongers. [2:08:38] Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the president. [2:08:45] Gentleman from Florida is recognized. [2:08:46] Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman from California, Vice Chair [2:08:50] of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Issa. [2:08:55] Before I begin. [2:08:57] In addition to [2:08:57] the disparaging of the president, Mr. Speaker, the previous speaker implied that this was [2:09:03] about money from defense contractors. [2:09:06] Shame on anyone who would say that. [2:09:09] 47 years ago, I was a young captain, first lieutenant about to be captain, when the war [2:09:17] was declared against us. [2:09:21] Iran has been at war with us for 47 years and at war with the world. [2:09:27] In 1982, I was a young captain when they killed 220 Marines. [2:09:31] Their bombs, their proxies in Lebanon. [2:09:34] To say that, in fact, this is not defense of America against the country, that every [2:09:41] day for 47 years has said, we are the evil ones and we must be destroyed. [2:09:47] So first of all, the right to defend, going back to Thomas Jefferson, has not been a question [2:09:54] of the Constitution. [2:09:55] It has been an obligation of the president. [2:09:58] So to insist on the right to defend, it's not a question of the Constitution. [2:10:00] It has been an obligation of the president. [2:10:01] So to insist on the right to defend, it's not a question of the Constitution. [2:10:02] It has been an obligation of the president. [2:10:04] To invoke the War Powers Act as though this is not defense and then to imply that there's [2:10:11] any purpose other than to recognize that this pervasive threat that has killed Americans [2:10:18] and others around the world, decade after decade, was getting stronger and stronger. [2:10:24] And even though I hear that there was no U.N., there was no this or that, I have visited [2:10:31] Ukraine. [2:10:32] Where? [2:10:33] There? [2:10:34] parts are killing Americans, Russians, Ukrainians, anyone they want because they're an exporter of [2:10:41] terror. The fact is, around the world, we are at war with this country of Iran. In my ancestral [2:10:50] country of Lebanon, today their proxies are firing on Israel in support of their hatred of the little [2:10:59] Satan, we being the big Satan. So am I defending the actions of the president? You betcha. And I [2:11:10] have defended it for my entire quarter of a century here, regardless of the party. The only [2:11:15] thing I can't defend is the idea that we have placated and empowered Iran time and time again [2:11:22] so that today the job is harder and longer than it otherwise would be. Lastly, there is no question [2:11:30] if we withdraw from the United States, we will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to [2:11:31] withdraw from the United States. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend [2:11:31] Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to [2:11:32] defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be [2:11:32] able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will [2:11:33] not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We [2:11:33] will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. [2:11:34] We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. [2:11:34] We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. We will not be able to defend Iran. [2:11:35] Ayatollah, the next Supreme Leader, that in fact the United States will not see this through and [2:11:41] we will be empowering them to spread their terror, to have more American blood on their hands as a [2:11:47] result. I urge no on this resolution because it is not only unconstitutional, but it is so ill-advised [2:11:56] at a time in which we are defending America. I thank the gentleman. Yield back. Thank you, Mr. [2:12:01] Issa. And I would point out that the next speaker as well, it would appear, voted to say use all [2:12:08] means necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He clearly thought there was a [2:12:14] pretty damn imminent threat going on there, but I look forward to hearing the remarks. I reserve. [2:12:19] Gentleman for the Reserves, the gentleman from New York. Also thought the President would follow [2:12:23] the Constitution. I yield one minute and 30 seconds to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, [2:12:29] Representative Chris DeLucia. The gentleman is recognized. [2:12:32] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from New York. I support the bipartisan war powers [2:12:37] resolution and we find ourselves once again in a foolish regime change war, much like the one that [2:12:42] my generation was sent to serve in in Iraq that cost thousands of lives, trillion plus dollars. [2:12:49] And I've heard lots of justifications on the other side for why this, number one, isn't a war. Well, [2:12:55] I heard the gentleman from New York call it a war. It's what it is. The Defense Secretary has [2:12:58] called it a war. That's what this is. I've seen pointing to different authorities here [2:13:03] and there between the laws that might justify this. The Congress has not declared war. The [2:13:08] Congress has not provided a statutory authorization for the use of military force. And the third [2:13:13] condition of the war powers resolution that could allow the President to do such a thing is that the [2:13:18] United States is under attack. We, of course, were not under attack when the President started [2:13:21] this war that we don't need to fight today. That's the war powers resolution. Those are the three [2:13:27] bases that a President can use force under the war powers resolution. And let's not forget, [2:13:33] American people want life less of a rip off here at home. They want health care they can afford [2:13:39] housing. I go on and on. What they don't want is Americans coming back in flag draped caskets and [2:13:44] billions of dollars spent overseas. Today, I asked Trump administration officials for the cost of [2:13:50] this war. They can't answer the question. Those are the basic things you got to know before you [2:13:55] send Americans to fight. We should support this resolution and put a stop to this. Now I yield [2:13:59] back. Gentleman yields. Gentleman reserves. Gentleman from Florida is recognized. [2:14:06] Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to be here. I'm pleased to be here. I'm pleased to be here. I'm pleased to [2:14:07] yield two minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Muser. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, [2:14:12] for your leadership, your service and your sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition [2:14:16] to H con Res 38, which would limit the president's ability to protect the American people. [2:14:21] Moran's terrorist regime. I believe that this resolution and maybe misunderstood sends a [2:14:28] troubling message to our troops and a perhaps interpreted welcome message to our enemy. [2:14:33] The Wars Power Act is very clear. An act that in 1973 requires the [2:14:37] president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying forces. And the president has 60 days [2:14:43] before he must seek congressional approval. President Trump has clearly acted within the [2:14:48] provisions of the War Powers Act. President Obama, on the other hand, [2:14:53] used these authorities to launch operations in Libya for over seven months. Iraq, Syria, Yemen. [2:14:58] President Biden invoked the same authorities for strikes against threats in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. [2:15:03] Yet no resolution to limit those presidents [2:15:08] has been drawn up in this House by our colleagues. So, as Secretary Rubio said, [2:15:13] and he described in great detail, there was an imminent threat upon the United States from Iran [2:15:20] and our allies. Speaker Johnson also warned the idea that Congress would now take away [2:15:24] the ability of the commander in chief is dangerous to the threat and the safety of the United States [2:15:31] of America. We must remember who we're dealing with. We're dealing with Iran. It's been a [2:15:35] terrorist state for 47 years. Its proxies range from head split, [2:15:39] Hamas to the Houthis, and the list goes on. And directly and through these proxies, [2:15:43] Iran has maimed and killed thousands of Americans. They orchestrated the massacre [2:15:49] on Israel on October 7th. We know this. They are, in fact, doing their very most to continue [2:15:53] enriching uranium to make weapons grade. According to Special Envoy Witkoff, just the other day, [2:15:59] the Iranian negotiators opened negotiations by bragging about presently controlling [2:16:03] 460 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, enough for [2:16:09] weapons grade material for 11 bombs within four to six weeks. Because of this regime's reign of [2:16:14] terror, their own civilians rose up and protested, Mr. Speaker. And over the last 10 months, [2:16:19] two months, there were reports that as many as 90,000 Iranian civilians were murdered. [2:16:26] President Trump has strategically developed regional trust throughout the Middle East. [2:16:31] This is why we have a strong coalition in the region to confront this threat. [2:16:35] Today, Iran is an island. Thanks to the strategy of the Trump administration, [2:16:40] the Iran of the past, one that oppresses and commits terrorism and all kinds of atrocities [2:16:45] on its own people in the world, is history. I yield back. [2:16:52] Gentleman yields. [2:16:53] Reserve. [2:16:54] Gentleman reserves. Gentleman from New York is recognized. [2:16:57] I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Representative Lloyd Doggett. [2:17:01] Gentleman is recognized. [2:17:05] From his first day in public office, President Trump has made it clear that he wants to rule [2:17:11] America by imperial decree. [2:17:15] He wants to be a king just for a day in America. He wants to be king of the universe. [2:17:20] Congress is just a nuisance that can be avoided. The courts, an occasional speed bump, [2:17:27] and international law, that's just a suggestion to this president. [2:17:31] In his decree declaring war on Iran, he glibly responded to the loss of American life by saying, [2:17:38] that's the way it is—with no clear objectives, no approval from the Congress, [2:17:45] no commitment to keep the ground troops active. [2:17:46] more American deaths and billions of taxpayer dollars wasted will be the way [2:17:52] it is. And we know that in this regard Trump is not America first. At best he is [2:18:00] American second, as Secretary Rubio confessed this week. Trump was too weak [2:18:06] to follow President Bush's wise example of saying no to Netanyahu. He has dragged [2:18:12] us into a war that has no imminent threat. He has committed us to a war that [2:18:17] will further destabilize an already unstable region of the world, and in [2:18:22] Trump's own words this war will go on as long as it takes. Well the last war like [2:18:28] that cost 4,400 American lives and two trillion dollars of taxpayer money. [2:18:34] While certainly I do not mourn the death of any of these despots in Iran who have [2:18:40] done so much harm, under Trump's clueless approach, we may just be replacing one [2:18:45] tyrant with another. [2:18:47] We already see [2:18:48] what's happening to our embassies, our military facilities, our airports, the [2:18:52] many Americans stranded abroad. I urge approval of this [2:18:58] resolution to stop Trump's forever war. Unless it is approved, Trump will be here [2:19:04] only encouraged to grab more and more power on his drive for total [2:19:09] authoritarian one-man rule in this country and the world. I yield back. [2:19:14] Genuine yields. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities [2:19:19] towards the president. Gentlemen in reserves, gentlemen from Florida is [2:19:24] recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I figured something out. If my [2:19:27] colleagues keep saying that four days is forever, maybe that's why they can't talk [2:19:33] about what imminent threat means. They can't figure out the definition of these [2:19:37] things. Imminent threat. I've done pretty well to define what makes Iran an [2:19:40] imminent threat. They don't want to speak about that and don't even want to [2:19:43] acknowledge it a little bit that, hey, maybe there's even a little chance that [2:19:47] Iran could attack us this day or this. Don't even want to acknowledge it the [2:19:51] slightest bit. Want to paint it as though it's just black and white, no shot [2:19:55] whatsoever, no threat at all coming from Iran, even though they voted for things [2:20:00] to say use all means necessary to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. It's [2:20:04] amazing to me and we know they have difficulty defining other words as well. [2:20:08] I reserve the balance of my time. Gentlemen in reserves, gentlemen from New [2:20:11] York's recognized. I never heard Donald Trump say he was an imminent threat. One yield, [2:20:16] I yield now one minute to the California, the gentleman from California, Representative Jimmy Clinton. [2:20:22] Go miss. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this war [2:20:27] powers resolution. This is a war of choice disguised as a war of necessity. [2:20:32] During the last several days, President Trump offered a shifting list of [2:20:35] justifications regime change, retribution, helping protesters stopping Iran's missile [2:20:42] and nuclear weapons program, a program that Trump claimed just last year that he [2:20:46] obliterated and a program, a ballistic missile program that the Department of [2:20:51] Defense has not going to be. [2:20:52] capable of reaching the U.S. until 2035. [2:20:56] The Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered another, that he had to strike first in case [2:21:01] Iran might retaliate after a possible Israeli attack. [2:21:05] Think about that. [2:21:06] Not because Iran posed an imminent threat, not because Congress authorized war, but because [2:21:12] someone else might attack. [2:21:14] This is not a strategy. [2:21:15] This is cherry-picking facts and lying to the American public to justify a predetermined [2:21:20] decision to launch a war. [2:21:22] So Americans asking two questions, why are we doing this and how does it end? [2:21:27] The Constitution is clear, the President cannot start a war alone. [2:21:32] So we need to make sure that the people's representatives are involved because once [2:21:36] troops are in harm's way, because once troops are in harm's way, missions expand and working [2:21:44] families get a knock on the door that changes their lives forever. [2:21:48] The cost of this war will not just be measured by dollars spent, but in lives lost. [2:21:53] Bodies broken and conflicts that rarely stay where they, stay confined to where they began. [2:21:59] With that, I yield back. [2:22:01] Gentleman yields. [2:22:04] I reserve. [2:22:05] Gentleman reserves. [2:22:06] Gentleman from Florida is recognized. [2:22:07] I reserve. [2:22:08] I am prepared to close it. [2:22:09] The gentleman is prepared to close. [2:22:11] Gentleman reserves. [2:22:14] Ready to close. [2:22:17] Gentleman's recognized. [2:22:20] Mr. Speaker, first let me be clear about what this resolution is not. [2:22:29] It's not a vote for or against war with Iran. [2:22:33] It's not an argument. [2:22:35] It's not an argument. [2:22:36] It's authorization for use of military force. [2:22:42] It does not prevent the United States from defending itself. [2:22:50] It does not restrict our U.S. military from protecting our troops or our assets or our [2:22:58] interests. [2:23:00] You may have heard some of those claims from the other side today. [2:23:04] They are wrong. [2:23:07] So what is this War Powers Resolution? [2:23:11] What is it? [2:23:14] It's simple. [2:23:15] It's simple. [2:23:16] It requires hostilities to stop unless and until Congress does what the Constitution [2:23:24] says it should do, authorize them. [2:23:29] That's what the Constitution says. [2:23:32] It affirms a basic principle. [2:23:37] No president can take this action or take this nation to a war against whomever, whenever [2:23:48] that president wishes to do it. [2:23:51] Without congressional authorization. [2:23:57] This is a war. [2:24:02] The administration has said so themselves. [2:24:07] We've heard many members on the other side of the aisle say this is a war. [2:24:13] This is a war. [2:24:16] But it is a war of choice, not a war authorized by the United States Congress. [2:24:28] The administration's own War Powers Notification. [2:24:32] And if you haven't read it, we'll give it to you. [2:24:36] They do not use or mention the word imminent at all, not once. [2:24:49] The administration has presented no imminent threat. [2:24:54] Why? [2:24:55] Because it cannot. [2:25:01] My colleague keeps using, I want to give him the definition of the word imminent. [2:25:04] And if it was so imminent, Donald Trump didn't do anything when he was the president before. [2:25:14] How long? [2:25:17] How long will this war last? [2:25:22] We don't know. [2:25:25] The administration doesn't see it. [2:25:27] It doesn't seem to know. [2:25:30] Their stated objectives are expansive and shifting every day. [2:25:37] They seem to shift. [2:25:40] One day I heard them say it was regime change. [2:25:44] The next day I heard them say it's nuclear weapons. [2:25:48] Then after that it was ballistic missiles. [2:25:53] And then we heard the Secretary of State say it's Israel was going to strike first. [2:25:59] And so we felt we had to otherwise that Iran would have strike first. [2:26:04] You know, Mr. Speaker. [2:26:07] This administration's case for war makes the Bush administration's weapons of mass destruction [2:26:15] story look like a well-documented Ph.D. dissertation. [2:26:27] Now to the members of Congress who disagree with my opposition to this war. [2:26:40] I disagree because I've listened and I've heard and I've been worried. [2:26:43] I disagree with this war. [2:26:46] But I say to them, if you disagree with this war, it is your prerogative. [2:26:55] But you should vote. [2:26:58] You should have a vote. [2:27:01] This vote is not about whether or not you support military action. [2:27:08] It's about whether you believe Congress should have a say. [2:27:12] In essence, it kind of meant, do we, should we exist? [2:27:17] The Constitution said we should exist. [2:27:20] We were created as a country because it was running from a king who did not want a Congress, [2:27:25] who didn't have a Congress, who could just do whatever they wanted. [2:27:28] And that's why the first thing that the founders said is Congress. [2:27:39] Congress. [2:27:41] Congress should, was the only one that had the power. [2:27:49] Speaker Jeffries said, and he went back by Republican member of the House of Representatives, [2:28:00] Abraham Lincoln, he said the provisions of the Constitution given the war making power [2:28:07] to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons. [2:28:13] Kings have always had been involving and impoverishing their people in wars. [2:28:20] Pretending generally, if not always, the good of the people was the object. [2:28:28] This, our convention, understood to be the most oppressive of all kingly oppressions. [2:28:37] And they resolved to frame the Constitution that no one man, no one man should hold the [2:28:52] power of Britain. [2:28:53] No one man took an oath. [2:29:07] We swore to uphold Article One of the Constitution. [2:29:15] Our constituents expect us to deliberate on matters of war and peace. [2:29:22] Did we deliberate on it? [2:29:24] No. [2:29:25] Have we had hearings in the House Foreign Affairs Committee? [2:29:29] No. [2:29:30] Have we had Mr. Who, Mr. Jared Kushner? [2:29:34] No. [2:29:35] No. [2:29:37] No. [2:29:38] Have we had Mr. Bush here? [2:29:39] He was supposed to have been negotiating to talk about what they were doing? [2:29:41] No. [2:29:42] Have we had Steve Whitcock here? [2:29:43] No. [2:29:43] Have we had anyone, other than, and it came for other reasons when we were able to ask [2:29:50] a few questions, then Secretary Rubio come? [2:29:54] No. [2:29:55] Have there been not dialogue and conversation? [2:29:59] You know we got the so-called gang-of-eight? [2:30:03] That they want to say that's notification. [2:30:05] Well let's talk about it. [2:30:06] We never debated anything on the floor of the House! [2:30:08] Now how many times have the gang-of-eight met? [2:30:10] Well, once! [2:30:12] speaker tries to say that's sufficient and even in that this imminent strike [2:30:22] was never mentioned we heard mr. Himes who was part of the gang of eight the [2:30:28] next time the gang of eight was heard was only a few hours before the one who [2:30:33] want to be king said he was going to attack that's the only dialogue and [2:30:40] conversation that took place before the strike no debate on the floor no trying [2:30:47] to talk to the members of Congress and most importantly the American people [2:30:52] because just before the State of the Union when the President had the whole [2:30:57] world we heard a whole two-hour speech the longest in the history of these [2:31:02] United States of America and Iran was hardly a mention if it was an imminent [2:31:07] threat I think he would want to tell the nation at that time that we had to do [2:31:14] something imminently we have soldiers who have died and a president start [2:31:27] talking about curtains and reconstruction and putting gold things [2:31:33] on the ground and putting gold things on the ground and putting gold things [2:31:33] up because he liked it. Families, gold families now unfortunately, but it wasn't a serious enough. [2:31:50] This is a serious situation. Congress is a co-equal branch of government. The framers [2:32:03] vested the war power in this body because they believe no single person should make [2:32:08] this nation to war alone and today we either defend our principle or surrender it. I urge [2:32:16] my colleagues to join me in defending it and I yield back the balance of my time. [2:32:25] Gentleman yields. Gentleman from Florida is recognized. Thank you Mr. Speaker. My colleague [2:32:31] ended with this is serious. This is serious. It's more serious than when my colleagues can't even [2:32:41] acknowledge a hint of an emergency, a hint of imminence related to the threat of Iran. Nothing [2:32:51] to see here. [2:32:52] Even though last Congress so many of them voted including ranking member Mr. Meeks to say use all [2:33:01] means necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Why would they say all means [2:33:07] necessary? Because I guess a year ago they believed it to be that imminent, that important. [2:33:15] It was said they by the ranking member their bill doesn't prevent the U.S. from defending ourselves. [2:33:22] It literally does. Let me read the text. [2:33:25] From you directs the president to terminate the use of United States armed forces from hostilities [2:33:31] against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military [2:33:36] unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war. That means the president cannot go out there [2:33:44] and defend the United States of America. It's saying the president has no article to authority [2:33:51] to go out there and defend the United States of America. That's literally what they're saying. [2:33:57] He said our hostilities must stop. But I can promise you the hostilities of Iran [2:34:04] will not stop, have never stopped until the United States of America makes this decision [2:34:15] to stop them. I thank President Trump for having the courage, the strength, the resolve to stop [2:34:27] the imminent threat of Iran from attacking the United States of America as they have week after week [2:34:35] year after year for the last 47 years, the very definition of imminent. [2:34:43] Mr. Speaker, I yield back. [2:34:46] Gentleman yields. All time for debate has expired.