Press releases
Senators Reclaim Their Constitutional Powers During War Powers Resolution Vote
Media Contact
Georgia Lyon
Media Relations Manager
In response to the Senate passing a War Powers Resolution for the first time since the start of the President’s war in Iran, Issue One Vice President of Advocacy Alix Fraser offered the following statement:
“Today’s Senate passage of the Iran War Powers Resolution is a significant step in the effort to reestablish one of Congress’ most sacred roles–the constitutional right to send American men and women to war. Issue One applauds the Senators who voted to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional role in decisions of war and peace, and we now call on members of the House to follow suit.
“We thank the Senate for its leadership and Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AL), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Rand Paul (R-KY) for having the courage to stand up for the American service members being asked to risk their lives, as well as for the American families already struggling with rising costs at home that have been caused by the war. This is a pivotal moment for our democracy. We must decide whether future generations will inherit a system in which the representatives of the American people debate and authorize the most consequential decisions, like going to war—or whether we normalize a system where presidents can unilaterally lead the country into ill-defined and open-ended conflicts.
“Americans should remain concerned about the broader structural weaknesses that allowed the country to reach this point without meaningful congressional involvement from the outset. The current war powers framework needs to be reformed to empower the legislative branch and follow the constitutional process that the framers intended.
“That is why Congress must continue working to reclaim and strengthen its Article I powers through reforms like those outlined in the We the People Playbook. Our democracy functions best when we adhere to the Constitution, preserve checks and balances, and ensure that the American people—through their elected representatives—have a voice in matters of war and peace.”