Shaheen Statement on Senate’s Failure to Pass Iran War Powers Resolution

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to pass the Iran war powers resolution:

“No one mourns the death of the Ayatollah, who is responsible for the deaths of Americans and thousands of his own people. But the American people have real and unanswered questions about what our objectives are, what the President’s strategy is to achieve them and whether this attack was driven by America’s national security interest or that of another country. After repeated briefings with the Administration, I continue to have these questions.

“This is why today I voted to reassert Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war. Our founders granted that authority to Congress because they understood that one person should not be able to send our men and women in uniform into combat without due consideration and the will of the American people. The President has ignored Congress and the American people as he put our servicemembers and diplomats in harm’s way. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I am particularly disturbed by the lack of planning by State Department leadership, leaving our diplomatic personnel and U.S. citizens without the options or time to leave countries that are now under direct attack. We need to do better.

“The American people are deeply worried about the cost and economic impact of this operation. More than anything else, I hear concerns from my constituents about the cost of living. But the President’s actions in Iran, and the resulting spike in gas prices will only make the affordability crisis worse. And Americans are wondering why the Administration says it can’t afford to help them keep their health insurance or put food on the table for their families when the President is spending billions of dollars halfway around the world.”

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