U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today voted in favor of H.Con.Res. 83, legislation that directs Donald Trump to adhere to the War Powers Resolution and “terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran” without a congressional declaration of war or specific statutory authorization.

“The Constitution is very clear on its assignment of the war powers to the Article I branch – Congress. Despite attempts to cloud the matter, the executive’s power as commander in chief to unleash the military might of America depends on first receiving legislative authorization,” said Rep. Pascrell, a cosponsor of H.Con.Res 83 and a strong advocate of congressional prerogative. “War powers is an issue that transcends partisan squabbles of the moment because it speaks to the separation of powers that underlies our democratic system. Our generations-long failure to constrain the imperial executive has created a constitutional asymmetry, opening the door for America to be dragged into repeated wars. Today the House is reasserting the proper constitutional balance and seeking to prevent another damned war. I call on the House to also advance legislation that will deny funding for war with Iran and repeal the authorization for war in Iraq.”

Rep. Pascrell is a longtime supporter in Congress for reasserting the powers of the Article I branch in the face of encroachment by the Imperial Executive. Pascrell is also a cosponsor of H.R. 5543 the No War Against Iran Act authored by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), and H.R. 2456, legislation repealing the authorization for the use of military force against Iraq resolution of 2002 offered by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13).