{"id":57893,"date":"2026-03-04T06:37:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/?p=57893"},"modified":"2026-03-04T06:37:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:37:54","slug":"pressure-builds-on-us-lawmakers-to-support-iran-war-powers-resolution-vote-in-senate-wednesday-and-in-house-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.antiwar.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/04\/pressure-builds-on-us-lawmakers-to-support-iran-war-powers-resolution-vote-in-senate-wednesday-and-in-house-thursday\/","title":{"rendered":"Pressure Builds on US Lawmakers To Support Iran War Powers Resolution (Vote in Senate Wednesday and in House Thursday)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sponsors and supporters of bipartisan resolutions aimed at limiting US President Donald Trump\u2019s power to attack Iran are strongly urging Congress to back the measures when they\u2019re up for votes later this week, with some observers evoking the specter of the Iraq quagmire as a warning against yet another protracted and illegal war.<\/p>\n<p>Anticipating Trump\u2019s June 2025 attack on Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities and scientists, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/ro-khanna\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-Calif.) introduced <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-concurrent-resolution\/38\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">H.Con.Res.38<\/a>, which directs the president to \u201cremove <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/united-states\">United States<\/a> armed forces from unauthorized hostilities\u201d against Iran. The measure has <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-concurrent-resolution\/38\/cosponsors\">83 other co-sponsors<\/a>, all of them Democrats.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/d27srd8s9736cr.cloudfront.net\/2026\/03\/mfjG-LEA.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-57896\" src=\"https:\/\/d27srd8s9736cr.cloudfront.net\/2026\/03\/mfjG-LEA.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"622\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d27srd8s9736cr.cloudfront.net\/2026\/03\/mfjG-LEA-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d27srd8s9736cr.cloudfront.net\/2026\/03\/mfjG-LEA-480x222.jpg 480w, https:\/\/d27srd8s9736cr.cloudfront.net\/2026\/03\/mfjG-LEA.jpg 622w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"rm-col-center col sm-mb-1\">\n<div class=\"widget__body clearfix sm-mt-1\">\n<div class=\"body js-expandable clearfix js-listicle-body css-listicle-body-2675550048\" data-headline=\"Pressure Builds on US Lawmakers to Support Iran War Powers Resolution\">\n<div class=\"body-description\" data-rm-calc-width=\"700\">\n<p>In the upper chamber, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) also introduced a war powers resolution, <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/senate-joint-resolution\/59\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">S.J.Res.59<\/a>, last June.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a principled opponent of military adventurism since America\u2019s 2003 invasion of Iraq, I was devastated this weekend when we learned that once again, American service members will be coming home in body bags,\u201d Khanna <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/rep-ro-khanna-congress-must-reclaim-war-powers-from-an-out-of-control-trump-over-iran\">wrote<\/a> in an opinion piece published Tuesday by <em>Fox News<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-twitter\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Lawmakers should have no doubt that this will be their equivalent of the Iraq War vote. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RTnPfquTIL\">https:\/\/t.co\/RTnPfquTIL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dylan Williams (@dylanotes) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dylanotes\/status\/2028851887806513429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 3, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<p>\u201cTrump announced: \u2018There will likely be more before it ends. That\u2019s the way it is,\u2019\u201d Khanna added. \u201cNo. That\u2019s not the way it is. That must not be the way it is. As Trump now refuses to rule out sending ground troops to Iran, I believe we must do everything in our power to stop this horrific war of choice before more Americans are killed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At least six US troops and, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, nearly 800 Iranians have been killed since Trump and Israeli Prime Minister <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> launched the war on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Constitution says we\u2019re not supposed to be at war without a vote of Congress,\u201d Kaine <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/03\/02\/g-s1-112092\/iran-war-powers-congress-trump\">told<\/a> <em><a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/npr\">NPR<\/a>.<\/em> \u201cThis is important. The lives of our troops are at risk. We ought to come back to <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/washington\">Washington<\/a> right away and vote on this.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"bluesky-embed\" data-bluesky-uri=\"at:\/\/did:plc:veq5dlv6t6yml6x5mlajeoy3\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3mg6oqyrxz22u\" data-bluesky-cid=\"bafyreica6fq7dfzbvazdvw73imyxoeulqdt7uydbw3kp73sjbwfqgfmoh4\">\n<p lang=\"en\">As every single democrat in the universe should.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/did:plc:veq5dlv6t6yml6x5mlajeoy3?ref_src=embed\">Craig (@thelordgod.bsky.social)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/did:plc:veq5dlv6t6yml6x5mlajeoy3\/post\/3mg6oqyrxz22u?ref_src=embed\">2026-03-03T21:13:48.205Z<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/embed.bsky.app\/static\/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The resolutions had been scheduled for debate and votes before Trump ordered the attack on Iran. With the war underway, some observers doubt whether passage of the measures would be an effective curb on the president\u2019s military campaign. If passed, Congress would likely have to vote on overriding Trump\u2019s anticipated vetoes, with an all-but-impossible two-thirds majority needed in both chambers.<\/p>\n<p>The <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/93rd-congress\/house-joint-resolution\/542\">War Powers Resolution of 1973 \u2013 <\/a>also known as the War Powers Act\u2014requires the president to notify lawmakers within 48 hours of committing troops to military action, and limits such action to 60 days, with a 30-day withdrawal period, unless Congress declares war or issues an authorization for the use of military force.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, six House Democrats \u2013 members of a faction that was <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/dems-sabotage-iran-war-powers-resolution\">reportedly working<\/a> to thwart votes on the two resolutions \u2013 <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/gottheimer.house.gov\/posts\/release-democrats-introduce-new-war-powers-resolution\">introduced<\/a> a competing war powers resolution that would give Trump a month to continue the war without congressional approval.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course Democrats who raced to applaud Trump\u2019s illegal war in Iran\u2014and in one case was pardoned by him \u2013 would draft a pro-war war powers resolution meant to sabotage the real war powers resolution receiving a vote this week,\u201d Demand Progress senior policy adviser Cavan Kharrazian <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/demandprogress.org\/pro-war-democrats-introduce-pro-war-iran-resolution\/\">said<\/a> in response to the reporting.<\/p>\n<p>Numerous groups are imploring Congress to pass the two original resolutions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPresident Trump \u2013 and Congress if it does not act to stop him \u2013 has effectively ceded American war-making authority to <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/icc-arrest-warrant-netanyahu\">indicted war criminal<\/a> Benjamin Netanyahu and dragged our nation into an unconstitutional war,\u201d Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) government affairs director Robert McCaw <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cair.com\/press_releases\/cair-says-congress-must-back-war-powers-vote-after-rubios-stunning-admission-that-israel-forced-u-s-into-war-with-iran\/\">said<\/a> Tuesday. \u201cThat is not self-defense. That is executive submission to <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/netanyahu-greater-israel\">Israel\u2019s regional ambitions<\/a> and warmongering.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSix American service members are dead. More than 180 Iranian schoolchildren and teachers have been <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/melania-trump-children\">killed<\/a> along with hundreds of others, as well as people in various countries,\u201d McCaw continued. \u201cThese are not abstractions. These are human beings lost in a war Congress never authorized and the American people never wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo president has the authority to start a war without congressional authorization for the benefit of a foreign government,\u201d he added. \u201cThe Constitution does not delegate war-making authority to foreign governments. It vests that power in Congress, and Congress must stop this war.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"bluesky-embed\" data-bluesky-uri=\"at:\/\/did:plc:6a4hbmycvqfyfze3x5lusakv\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3mg5tbs66q62i\" data-bluesky-cid=\"bafyreicghkrodjheptk6hbigbqqg252sb3pvzymgepqav4vn5e24il4v6i\">\n<p>Amid a massive anti-Iraq war movement in 2003, 72% of people in the U.S. still supported going to war.Today, even without an overwhelming anti-war movement, only 18% of people support war against Iran.This war is senseless, illegal, and unpopular. End it now.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/did:plc:6a4hbmycvqfyfze3x5lusakv?ref_src=embed\">Institute for Policy Studies (@ips-dc.org)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/did:plc:6a4hbmycvqfyfze3x5lusakv\/post\/3mg5tbs66q62i?ref_src=embed\">2026-03-03T13:02:06.831Z<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/embed.bsky.app\/static\/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the consumer advocacy group <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/public-citizen\">Public Citizen<\/a>, <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/news\/congress-must-end-trumps-illegal-acts-of-aggression-against-iran-after-saturday-strikes\/\">said<\/a> after Trump launched the attack on Iran that \u201cthe president who so pathetically claims to be deserving of a <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/nobel-peace-prize\">Nobel Peace Prize<\/a> has launched a deadly and unconstitutional regime change war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is no congressional declaration of war nor authorization for the use of force in Iran, making Trump\u2019s actions transparently unconstitutional and illegal,\u201d Gilbert continued. \u201cImportantly, Trump\u2019s actions in Iran would be illegal under <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/international-law\">international law<\/a> even if there were congressional authorization. Iran poses no imminent security threat to the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExactly like the <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/iraq-war\">Iraq War<\/a> Trump untruthfully claimed to have opposed, this is a war of choice driven by arrogance and imperial ambition,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd exactly like the Iraq War, the risks are manifold \u2013 with needless short-term deaths inevitable and long-term consequences unknowable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCongress must act immediately to end this illegal and unconstitutional aggression,\u201d Gilbert stressed.<\/p>\n<p>The progressive political action group Our Revolution said in an email that \u201cTrump\u2019s illegal war with Iran is spiraling out of control \u2013 and Congress has only hours left to slam on the brakes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt could not be clearer that Trump has dragged us into a war with no endgame, no congressional debate, and no concern for who gets killed,\u201d the group added. \u201cBut with the House and Senate vote&#8230; we have a crucial chance to stop another forever war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At the peace group Win Without War, deputy director Shayna Lewis <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/winwithoutwar.org\/trumps-illegal-war-endangers-millions-must-be-stopped\/\">said<\/a> that \u201cthis war is flatly illegal \u2013 neither authorized by Congress, nor justified under any international law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump has similarly failed to make his case to the US public in any way,\u201d Lewis noted. \u201cInstead, he has <a class=\"rm-stats-tracked\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/oman-foreign-minister-iran-deal\">capriciously upended<\/a> critical diplomatic negotiations to ignite a major, open-ended, region-wide war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile Trump has tried to portray himself as an ally to brave protesters in Iran facing grave violence, the Iranian government\u2019s horrific record does not justify this reckless push to war,\u201d she contended. \u201cWe know from decades of tragic US-led interventions that bombs do not deliver peace and freedom to people struggling under brutal regimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCongress must convene immediately and end this illegal war,\u201d Lewis added. \u201cThis week both the House and Senate will have yet another chance at passing war powers resolutions to rein in our out-of-control president. They owe it to their constituents, their constitutional duty, and people across the globe to vote yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sponsors and supporters of bipartisan resolutions aimed at limiting US President Donald Trump\u2019s power to attack Iran are strongly urging Congress to back the measures when they\u2019re up for votes later this week, with some observers evoking the specter of the Iraq quagmire as a warning against yet another protracted and illegal war. Anticipating Trump\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":372,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"coauthors":[806],"class_list":["post-57893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"meta_box":{"disable_donate_message":"0","custom_donate_message":"","subtitle":"\u201cLawmakers should have no doubt that this will be their equivalent of the Iraq War vote,\u201d said one observer. 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