Senate Passes Iran War Powers Resolution With No Teeth

The Senate passed a non-binding war powers resolution Tuesday directing President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities in Iran or seek congressional approval to continue the war.

The concurrent resolution passed in a 50 to 48 vote, as Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with Democrats. Trump has no legal obligation to comply with the directive since concurrent resolutions have no force of law.

The resolution directs Trump to “remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran.”

Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman voted against the resolution while Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania did not vote.

The passage came after several Senate Republicans, including Ted Cruz of Texas and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, opposed Trump’s 60-day ceasefire agreement with Iran. Republican Sens. Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Eric Schmitt of Missouri praised the deal, with Moreno calling it “really monumental.”

The House passed the resolution in a 215-208 vote on June 3, with Republican Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Tom Barrett of Michigan joining Democrats. The chamber delayed a vote on the resolution scheduled for May 22 because several Republican lawmakers were absent.

Democratic New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, who sponsored the resolution in the House, said