Two of the Democrats who voted against the war powers resolution that passed the House with a majority of the party’s support said they did so because the “symbolic vote” was a distraction that didn't help fix the “real challenges” facing the Congress.

“We voted against the War Powers Resolution that the House passed this week because it merely restated existing law,” Reps. Elaine Luria Elaine Goodman LuriaUS Chamber of Commerce set to endorse 23 House freshman Democrats House panel votes against curtailing Insurrection Act powers after heated debate Republican Scott Taylor wins Virginia primary, to face Elaine Luria in rematch MORE (D-Va.) and Max Rose Max RoseThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep Navy cancels training flight over NYC on 9/11 after criticism FDNY says Treasury withheld .7M from 9/11 first responder fund MORE (D-N.Y.) wrote in an op-ed published in The New York Times on Sunday.

“It addressed a de-escalated conflict with a symbolic vote that did more to distract than to fix the real challenges we face,” the Democrats added.

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Luria and Rose noted their own experiences serving in the Middle East while arguing against the war power resolution in the op-ed. The Democrats said that if Congress “wants to assert its power to declare war,” lawmakers need to debate a new Authorization of Use of Military Force, or AUMF.

“That is where decisions of war and peace are made,” they wrote.

Luria and Rose were among the eight Democrats to vote against the resolution. Two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie Thomas Harold MassieGOP lawmaker praises Kyle Rittenhouse's 'restraint' for not emptying magazine during shooting Rep. Dan Meuser tests positive for COVID-19 Liz Cheney wins Wyoming GOP primary in reelection bid MORE (Ky.) and Francis Rooney Laurence (Francis) Francis RooneyThe Hill's Convention Report: Democrats gear up for Day Two of convention The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Gohmert tests positive; safety fears escalate on Capitol Hill Pelosi to require masks on House floor MORE (Fla.), joined most Democrats to vote in favor of the measure, which is aimed at reining in President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE’s military action toward Iran in the wake of a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Luria and Rose wrote that Trump, who did not inform Congress of the strike before it was launched, was “within his right to order this attack and is now correctly de-escalating the conflict with the clear mandate that we must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability.”

“We are not at war with Iran, and no president can engage in war without congressional approval. But the commander in chief holds the authority and responsibility to target hostile combatants who threaten American forces and civilians,” they wrote. “The War Powers Resolution passed by the House this week sends the wrong message to the American people and the world that our nation is heading toward or is currently engaged in war with Iran. Neither are true.”

Luria and Rose wrote that Congress needs to debate “how we move forward” rather than “whether the president had authority” to order Soleimani’s killing.