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88 Bipartisan Members Urge Congressional Authorization for Military Action Against Syria

April 13, 2018

Cite President’s responsibility to seek authorization from Congress as prescribed in the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Justin Amash (R-Mich.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), led 88 bipartisan Members of Congress in a letter urging President Trump to consult and receive authorization from Congress prior to ordering the use of U.S. military force in Syria, citing the President's responsibility to do so prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

The members write:

"While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate — and the active engagement of Congress — prior to committing U.S. military assets. Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.

"We stand ready to consider the facts before us and share the burden of decisions made regarding U.S. involvement in the quickly escalating Syrian conflict."

Read the full letter here.

The members were joined by U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.), Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.), Paul A. Gosar D.D.S. (R-Ariz.), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.), Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Ted S. Yoho, DVM (R-Fla.), James P. McGovern (D-Mass.), Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Richard M. Nolan (D-Minn.), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Raúl R. Labrador (R-Idaho), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D- Va.), Mia Love (R-Nev.), Albio Sires (D-N.J.), Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Kurt Schrader (R-Wash.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-District of Columbia), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), Paul D. Tonko (D-N.Y.), John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), H. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Andy Biggs (R-Ky.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Jason Lewis (R-Minn.), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.), Ted W. Lieu (D-Calif.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn.), David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.), Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.), Al Green (D-Texas), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Brenda L. Lawrence (D-Ala.), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.), Rod Blum (R-Iowa), Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C), Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas), Alma S. Adams (D-N.C.), David E. Price (D-N.C.), James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Dwight Evans (D-Penn.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Cedric Richmond (D-La.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.).

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