AZ Congress Biggs Statement ON Resolution to Tie Presidents Hands on Iran Hostilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 9, 2020

Congressman Biggs' Statement on H. Con. Res. 83

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.”

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 Congressman Andy Biggs is a second-term Representative from Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.

CONTACT:

Daniel Stefanski

Communications Director | Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

C: (202) 870-4973 | O: (202) 225-2635