To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Congress: Explicitly Prohibit Syria & Yemen Escalation
Just Foreign Policy
Invoke the War Powers Resolution to explicitly prohibit military escalation in Syria & Yemen.
Why is this important?
On April 10, 55 Members of the House sent a bipartisan letter to President Trump and Attorney General Sessions demanding that President Trump seek authorization from Congress before escalating militarily in Yemen. Rep. Mark Pocan said, “Administration officials have proposed the U.S. participate directly in an attack on Yemen's major port. Such an attack could push the country into full-blown famine...this letter is a first step in reasserting our Constitutional check on presidential powers. I am committed to pursuing all tools at our disposal to ensure President Trump abides by our Constitution before possibly plunging our country into another senseless conflict.” Rep. Ted Lieu said, “President Trump does not have the authority to send U.S. forces to battle the Houthis in Yemen, period." [1]
On April 6, President Trump attacked Syria without congressional authorization. Many Members of Congress have said that President Trump did not have authority for this attack and must seek authorization from Congress before any further military action. [2]
But in his required 48-hour notification to Congress on April 8 on the Syria strike, President Trump said he would "take additional action, as necessary and appropriate." He did not say he would seek authorization from Congress before taking "additional action." [3]
Under the War Powers Resolution, a single Member of Congress can force a debate and vote on U.S. participation in an unauthorized war. [4]
Press your representatives to pledge to invoke the War Powers Resolution to explicitly prohibit military escalation in Syria and Yemen by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-effort-55-us-representatives-call-on-trump-to-come-to
2. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/328015-sanders-calls-on-trump-to-come-to-congress-over-syria-strikes; https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-us-air-strike-in-syria-
3. https://www.lawfareblog.com/president-trumps-war-powers-report-syria-attacks
4. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp
On April 6, President Trump attacked Syria without congressional authorization. Many Members of Congress have said that President Trump did not have authority for this attack and must seek authorization from Congress before any further military action. [2]
But in his required 48-hour notification to Congress on April 8 on the Syria strike, President Trump said he would "take additional action, as necessary and appropriate." He did not say he would seek authorization from Congress before taking "additional action." [3]
Under the War Powers Resolution, a single Member of Congress can force a debate and vote on U.S. participation in an unauthorized war. [4]
Press your representatives to pledge to invoke the War Powers Resolution to explicitly prohibit military escalation in Syria and Yemen by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-effort-55-us-representatives-call-on-trump-to-come-to
2. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/328015-sanders-calls-on-trump-to-come-to-congress-over-syria-strikes; https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-us-air-strike-in-syria-
3. https://www.lawfareblog.com/president-trumps-war-powers-report-syria-attacks
4. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp