House Republicans abruptly delayed a vote Thursday on the war powers resolution that would restrict President Donald Trump’s ability to continue the Iran war.
The resolution, sponsored by Democratic New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, would direct Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran other than those “necessary to defend the United States” or an ally from an “imminent attack.” The Democratic-led resolution likely would have passed since several GOP lawmakers were absent.
Lawmakers will have to vote on the resolution when they return from Memorial Day recess on June 2.
Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan and Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted for the resolution in a procedural vote. Massie was not present at the House votes Thursday after losing his primary to Trump-endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein on Tuesday. (RELATED: Four House Republicans Side With Republicans On Trump’s Iran Strikes)
Fitzpatrick’s and Barrett’s offices did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
US President Donald Trump speaks flanked by US Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar accused Republicans of behaving like a “wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trump administration.”
“The Republican-controlled House continues to behave like a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trump administration. Republicans cowardly pulled a scheduled vote on a War Powers Resolution—legislation that would have passed with bipartisan support and required the President to end the conflict in the Middle East,” the leaders said in a joint statement. “Even as we prepare to recognize our nation’s fallen heroes on Memorial Day, House Republicans refuse to show up and be accountable to the brave service members that have been recklessly put in harm’s way. The American people will remember in November.”
Meeks said Republicans pulled the vote because they knew they would “lose.”
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president has 60 days to engage in a military conflict before Congress must either declare war or authorize the use of military force.
Senate Republicans are working to defeat a war powers resolution that has gotten closer to passing the chamber. Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted to advance the resolution for a final vote on Tuesday, while three other Republicans missed the vote. Cassidy lost his primary to Rep. Julia Letlow, who received Trump’s endorsement.
Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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