House Votes To Limit Trump's Iran War Powers

The House of Representatives voted to adopt a resolution Thursday limiting the powers of the President to conduct military action against Iran without congressional approval.

The resolution, seen as a symbolic measure, was passed largely on party lines, cwith three Republicans voting “yes.” It was introduced and adopted despite President Trump on Wednesday accepting the opportunity the Iranians offered to de-escalate -- by firing missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops but with adequate warnings and precision so as not to cause any casualties.

The resolution calls on the President "to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran" unless Congress declares war or enacts "specific statutory authorization" for the use of armed forces.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in her weekly press conference earlier Thursday: “Last week, in our view, the administration conducted a provocative disproportionate airstrike against Iran which endangered Americans, and did so without consulting Congress." She criticized the drone attack before the vote, again, in the House. She said the the resolution would send a clear statement to Trump.

The resolution stated that "Congress has not authorized the President to use military force against Iran" but also offered the exception that armed forces can be used if it "is necessary and appropriate to defend against an imminent armed attack upon the United States."

The Trump administration’s classified notification on the airstrike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani and its failures to confer with Congress before ordering the strike had angered lawmakers. The resolution was sponsored by freshman Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D- MI.), who is a former analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense.

CNN reported quoting a senior Democratic aide who acknowledged the arguments on why the resolution might not be legally binding, but said it "makes congressional intent crystal clear and the President should respect that."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Ca.) has already said the resolution "cannot become law," and the prospect of President Trump, who has so far shown scant regard for congressional authority, respecting the resolution is remote.

It now will need to pass the Senate but that would require four Republican senators to vote with the Democrats. In the highly partisan politics of Washington that support seems to be lacking, despite the criticism senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Ut.) had for the White House's briefing on the Soleimani strike. The two senators said the officials instructed lawmakers not to ask tough questions about the President's ability to use military force against Iran.