US House Passes Iran War Powers Resolution, Urges Trump to End Military Action

The 220–204 vote marks the third time the House has approved a measure seeking to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, with seven Republicans joining Democrats.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a new war powers resolution directing President Donald Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran, intensifying congressional pressure over the administration’s military campaign.

The House passed H. Con. Res. 93 by a vote of 220–204 on Tuesday, September 15. According to the official House Clerk’s record, 213 Democrats and seven Republicans voted in favor, while 203 Republicans and one independent voted against the resolution.

The measure, introduced by Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, invokes Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution and calls for the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran.

The vote marks the third time the House has passed a similar war powers resolution since the conflict began. Previous measures were approved in June and July, according to House voting records.

Moulton’s office described the latest vote as another congressional effort to bring the military conflict to an end.

“A war that Donald Trump said would last a few weeks is now at 6 months and counting. A war that Congress did not authorize, and that the American people do not want.”

Moulton’s office added:

“Tonight’s vote on Rep. Moulton’s war powers resolution was another step in ending Trump’s war with Iran, but the work doesn’t stop here. We will keep up the pressure until Trump folds.”

The measure also drew support from seven Republicans, including Thomas Massie, Nancy Mace, Brian Fitzpatrick, Warren Davidson, Tom Barrett, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, according to the House vote record and congressional reporting.

Congressman Gregory Meeks, D-NY, speaks before the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg to participate in Queens Democratic party’s first in a series of “presidential fireside chat,” a town hall forum for 2020 presidential candidates, Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at LaGuardia Community College in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also criticized the administration’s handling of the conflict. He pointed to the economic and military costs associated with the fighting, including higher fuel prices, inflation, government spending and U.S. military casualties.

“This is now the third War Powers Resolution that has passed the House to end this war, including my own resolution which passed both chambers. The president must end this failed war and appoint real diplomats, not real estate developers, to work multilaterally on a diplomatic solution that opens the Strait and reduces tensions,” Meeks said.

The vote comes as the conflict enters its seventh month. Reporting by Anadolu Agency said 19 U.S. service members had been killed and more than 750 wounded since U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on February 28. Other recent reporting has put the number of U.S. military deaths at 18, indicating that casualty figures have changed as the conflict has developed.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the cost of the conflict at more than $38 billion, according to Moulton’s office.

The House action, however, does not by itself end U.S. military operations. The resolution must navigate the broader congressional process and the administration’s response before it could have practical effect.

President Donald Trump

President Trump said Wednesday that he hoped the conflict was nearing its end, while discussions involving Gulf countries were expected to focus on possible postwar arrangements and regional tensions.

BEC