Washington, DC —With ongoing threats by the Trump Administration to use military force against Iran, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) secured two separate provisions in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by the House Armed Services Committee, ensuring that no measure in the bill may be used as an authorization for the use of military force against either Iran or Venezuela.

She also reintroduced the No More Presidential Wars resolution which would prohibit the President from starting a war without Congressional authorization. It defines Presidential wars not declared by Congress under Article I, section 8, clause 11 (Declare War Clause) as impeachable “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

“The Trump Administration continues to escalate tensions with Iran, pushing us closer to the brink of war. This includes U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement, increasing crippling sanctions, designating Iran’s military as a terrorist organization, and sending more U.S. troops to the region,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard . “Congress bears the Constitutionally-mandated authority to declare war. Trump launching an attack against Iran without Congressional authorization would be illegal, unconstitutional, and kick off a war so devastating and costly, it would make the Iraq war look like a picnic.

“My No More Presidential Wars resolution will exact a clear consequence to any President that skirts the war powers authority of Congress and my NDAA amendments will make certain that nothing in this bill may be used to take America into yet another wasteful, counterproductive regime change war.”

Background: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a leading voice for peace in Congress, advocating against counterproductive, regime-change wars — including raising concerns regarding recent Administration actions which have heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and the late Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) introduced similar legislation , H.Res.922 , during the 115th Congress.

The current No More Presidential Wars resolution, introduced in May 2019, can be found on Congress.gov here .

2020 NDAA reported by the House Armed Services Committee includes Section 1225 (page 779, lines 16-20) dealing with Iran and Section 1266 (page 841, lines 1-5) dealing with Venezuela — both stating that the NDAA may not be construed as an authorization for the use of military force against either country.

About Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii’s Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard for 16 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...

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