Iran Crisis: House Repeals Measure That Authorized Iraq War, Curtails President's Authority On Military Action

The House on Thursday voted to limit President Trump’s authority to order military action without consulting Congress, a reaction to the targeted drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The House voted 236-166 to repeal the Iraq War authorization, which Trump used to order the action against Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Quds Force, responsible for spreading Iran’s influence throughout the region.

“Members of Congress continue to have serious, urgent concerns about the president’s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said before the vote.

The bill is expected to die in the Senate.

Thursday’s vote involved two measures, one that prevents the president from using federal funds for military action against Iran without congressional authorization. The other repealed the Authorization for Use of Military Force was passed in 2002, which enabled former President George W. Bush to invade Iraq.

The Constitution gives the power to declare war to Congress but in recent years, lawmakers have let the executive take the initiative without congressional approval.

Iran retaliated against Soleimani’s death with missile strikes on two bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops that left dozens of members of the military with traumatic brain injuries.

The 2002 authorization allowed military action to “defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq.” The resolution was used as authorization to conduct counterterrorism campaigns elsewhere.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., called the resolution outdated.

"Not only is it not needed for any current counterterrorism operations but repealing it would have absolutely no impact on the administration’s ongoing military operations,” she said, adding that leaving it in place strips Congress of its authority.

Trump has threatened to veto the bill but earlier this week tweeted lawmakers should vote their “hearts.”

Later he seemed to retract the sentiment, saying it would make it more difficult for the U.S. to defend itself.