Congressman Harley Rouda Statement on War Powers Resolution Vote

Washington, D.C. – This afternoon, Congressman Harley Rouda issued the following statement on the House’s passage of H. Con. Res. 83, which would direct the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran without a Congressional Authorization for the Use of Military Force.

Said Rouda, "Millions of Americans, including family members of our brave troops, are gravely concerned about military escalation. The stakes are too high for this administration to skip constitutionally mandated steps and offer anything less than a pragmatic, comprehensive, and diplomatic strategy.

Qassem Soleimani died with American blood on his hands. He was a killer and a terrorist, the architect of countless attacks on American service members and our partners in the Middle East. No American should mourn his passing - I certainly do not.

Soleimani's despicable disregard for humanity does not negate the fact that the strike, which led to his death, was conducted without a congressional Authorization for the Use of Military Force against Iran, a potentially unconstitutional act.

The safety of American troops and personnel must be prioritized above else. After years of ill-advised war in Iraq, we owe our service members and their families no less.”

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