Ranking Member McCollum Statement on War Powers Resolutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on two War Powers Resolutions aimed at curtailing the Trump Administration’s illegal actions in the Caribbean. The first resolution, H.Con.Res.61, would direct the withdrawal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with presidentially designated terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere. The second resolution, H.Con.Res.64, would direct the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. Both measures failed.

Ranking Member Betty McCollum voted in favor of both resolutions, citing Congress’ lack of explicit authorization of the Trump Administration’s military actions as the basis for her vote. Following the vote, Congresswoman McCollum issued the following statement: 

“The Trump Administration is engaged in a campaign of extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean, and it needs to end immediately. None of the Trump Administration’s military actions in the Caribbean or South America have been authorized by Congress, and both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have called on the administration to stop. I do not believe that engaging in military action in the Caribbean or conducting a regime change war in Venezuela is in the national security interests of the United States. If President Trump disagrees, then he must cease his unlawful actions, follow the Constitution, and ask Congress to formally authorize his military actions.”

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