To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Help the Progressive Caucus Limit the Iraq-Syria war
Just Foreign Policy
Members of Congress should co-sponsor the Congressional Progressive Caucus Resolution, H. Con. Res. 114, urging limitations on the U.S. use of military force in Iraq and Syria and should use the principles embodied in H. Con. Res. 114 to limit any authorization for the use of military force in Iraq or Syria.
In particular, Congress should:
- prohibit the use of ground combat troops;
- ensure that any authorization of force has a time limit or sunset provision so that it has to be renewed in the future for war to continue rather than lasting indefinitely by default; and
- ensure that there is regular public reporting on civilian deaths and injuries from U.S. airstrikes, so that the public, Members of Congress, and journalists can better understand reports in the media about civilian casualties.
In particular, Congress should:
- prohibit the use of ground combat troops;
- ensure that any authorization of force has a time limit or sunset provision so that it has to be renewed in the future for war to continue rather than lasting indefinitely by default; and
- ensure that there is regular public reporting on civilian deaths and injuries from U.S. airstrikes, so that the public, Members of Congress, and journalists can better understand reports in the media about civilian casualties.
Why is this important?
A new U.S. war has begun in Iraq and Syria—without Congressional authorization. Congress is likely to vote on an authorization, sooner or later; whatever they eventually vote on will almost certainly pass. What is in the authorization they vote on is something that we can still influence. In the process, we can help put a quick end to this war, preventing it from becoming another endless quagmire.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus Resolution, H.Con.Res.114, establishes a set of four key principles that we can organize around.
The resolution says that Congress:
- should debate and vote on whether the U.S. should be involved in sustained combat in Iraq or Syria;
- does not support the deployment of ground combat troops in Iraq or Syria;
- should ensure that any grant of authority for force is narrowly tailored and limited; and
- should ensure that any grant of authority for force includes robust reporting requirements.
Key progressive leaders in Congress supporting H.Con.Res.114 include: Reps. Raul Grijalva, Keith Ellison, Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, Alan Grayson, Peter DeFazio, Peter Welch, Mark Pocan, Jim McDermott, John Conyers, Katherine Clark, Beto O'Rourke, Janice Hahn, Richard Nolan, Hank Johnson, Charlie Rangel, Michael Honda, Chellie Pingree, Niki Tsongas, Mark Takano, Sam Farr, John Lewis, Jose Serrano.
https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/114/cosponsors
Show your support for H.Con.Res.114 and these principles by signing our petition.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus Resolution, H.Con.Res.114, establishes a set of four key principles that we can organize around.
The resolution says that Congress:
- should debate and vote on whether the U.S. should be involved in sustained combat in Iraq or Syria;
- does not support the deployment of ground combat troops in Iraq or Syria;
- should ensure that any grant of authority for force is narrowly tailored and limited; and
- should ensure that any grant of authority for force includes robust reporting requirements.
Key progressive leaders in Congress supporting H.Con.Res.114 include: Reps. Raul Grijalva, Keith Ellison, Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, Alan Grayson, Peter DeFazio, Peter Welch, Mark Pocan, Jim McDermott, John Conyers, Katherine Clark, Beto O'Rourke, Janice Hahn, Richard Nolan, Hank Johnson, Charlie Rangel, Michael Honda, Chellie Pingree, Niki Tsongas, Mark Takano, Sam Farr, John Lewis, Jose Serrano.
https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/114/cosponsors
Show your support for H.Con.Res.114 and these principles by signing our petition.