FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January 9,
2020
WASHINGTON, D.C.
–
Today, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 83,
regarding American engagement in hostilities in or against Iran. Congressman
Biggs, Co-Chairman of the War Powers Caucus, voted against the resolution and
issued the following statement:
“House Democrats
have commenced 2020 the same way they ended 2019: harassing President Trump’s
actions as Commander in Chief. I believe the January 3 airstrike, which was the
impetus for today’s resolution, was fully justified; and I applaud President
Trump for eliminating two dangerous terrorists. Article II of the U.S.
Constitution assigns the President the role of “Commander in Chief,” thereby
granting him the authority to act in imminent, emergency circumstances.
Additionally, Congress passed an authorization for the use of military force in
2002 that allows our nation’s armed forces to engage hostile entities seeking to
undermine the stability of Iraq. Further, H. Con. Res. 83 is a non-binding
resolution, which does nothing constructive for the situation at
hand.
“I do not want the
United States embroiled in a war with Iran. Such a conflict would place American
lives at risk and would likely not be in our nation’s long-term strategic
interest. I am confident President Trump does not want this outcome either: in
the immediate wake of the airstrike and in subsequent communications, the
President has repeatedly emphasized that the January 3 event was a limited,
defensive action. He has also frequently indicated his intention to disengage
from the “endless wars” in the Middle East.
“However, should
the threat of a larger conflict in the region arise in the future, it would then
be Congress’s constitutional responsibility to debate and potentially authorize
any further action. There is a time and place for this, though – and today’s
vote, embroiled in political animus towards the President, is not the
appropriate vehicle. Members of the bipartisan War Powers Caucus want to restore
congressional authority on the use-of-military force and are prepared to lead
future discussions on returning to these constitutional
boundaries.”
###
CONTACT:
Daniel
Stefanski
Communications
Director | Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05)
C: (202)
870-4973 | O: (202) 225-2635