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POGO Urges House to Pass War Powers Resolution Regarding Iran

The resolution to limit President Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran is a step in the right direction for Congress, as Congress seeks to reassert its power to declare war after decades of seeing that authority eroded.
Jan 09, 2020
U.S. Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (2/8 Marines), Regimental Combat Team 7 conduct a mission rehearsal at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on May 21, 2013. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps / Cpl. Kowshon Ye)

(WASHINGTON)—The House of Representatives is set to vote Thursday on a war powers resolution introduced by Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) that aims to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran. The resolution is a step in the right direction for Congress, as the legislative branch seeks to reassert its power to declare war following decades of seeing that authority eroded.

The Constitution is clear: The power to declare war lies squarely with Congress, not the president. It’s crucial that Congress continue to take even stronger steps to assert its war powers as related to military action in Iran and beyond, including repealing the 2002 Iraq War authorization.

“It is essential that Congress weigh in to stop any misinterpretation of their previous authorizations for use of force,” said Liz Hempowicz, the Project On Government Oversight’s (POGO) director of public policy. “In order to meaningfully exercise its constitutional prerogative after decades of passivity on war powers, Congress must finally rise up to constrain unilateral executive action.”

Media Contacts: Liz Hempowicz, Director of Public Policy at POGO, [email protected] or (202) 347-1122; or Caitlin MacNeal, Media Relations Manager at POGO, [email protected] or (202) 347-1122

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Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing.

We champion reforms to achieve a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government that safeguards constitutional principles.