As Tensions Rise, Merkley Pushes for Immediate Vote on Preventing Unauthorized War with Iran

Thursday, June 20, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the current situation with Iran and the Senate’s debate of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Merkley is teaming up with Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) to push for a proposed amendment to the NDAA that would prevent the Trump administration from entering into a war with Iran without congressional authorization:

“The events of the last twenty-four hours have put us in a truly dangerous and precarious moment. War with Iran would be a reckless, disastrous mistake. It’s clear that the members of the Trump team who have been beating the war drums see their opening to force a confrontation. They appear to be actively working to ratchet up tensions and manipulate the President into launching an unauthorized war as soon as possible.

“Congress needs to act immediately to prevent this administration from starting a war in Iran without congressional authorization. Only Congress has the power to vote to take our country to war, and we cannot let our constitutional duty be usurped by saber-rattlers in this administration. The Senate must vote without delay on our amendment to bar any unauthorized war with Iran.”

Merkley will speak on the floor today regarding his Iran amendment at approximately 3:15pm Eastern/12:15pm Pacific. Live audio and video of the Senate floor is available here.