Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked a war powers resolution that he cosponsored to end U.S. military involvement against Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress:

“As Donald Trump pushes our country into a war that has already cost the lives of at least six brave service members, Republicans today refused to even debate the issue because they know that Americans did not ask for this. Americans want lower costs — not another forever war they will be forced to pay for at the gas pump and through rising energy bills.

“Donald Trump, who campaigned on ending ‘endless’ wars, has now illegally launched one without Congressional authorization. With each passing day, President Trump and his Administration change their justification for this war and have failed to provide credible evidence of any imminent threat against the United States. This is another haphazard, ‘act now, plan later’ mission carried out with no clear plan for what comes next, who comes next, or how this Administration will protect the American people from retaliation.

“This war powers resolution was a first attempt toward getting the answers that the American people deserve. Instead, Republicans once again chose to surrender Congressional authority to the president.”

Senator Padilla previously condemned President Trump’s preemptive strikes against Iran without Congressional authorization on Saturday.

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