The Senate passed a House-approved war powers resolution limiting President Trump’s action in Iran in a 50-48 vote.
Four Republicans joined the Democrats for its passage: Rand Paul (KY), Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), and Lisa Murkowski (AK). Two Republicans, Mitch McConnell (KY) and David McCormick (PA), missed the vote.
Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, voted alongside Republicans.
According to the resolution, President Trump is to “remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack provided that the President complies fully with the requirements of section 5(b) the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)) with respect to any such use of the Armed Forces, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran.”
The House passed the resolution in a 215-208 vote earlier this month.
Fetterman crossed the aisle to vote alongside Republicans in a previous vote on the resolution.
Last month, the Senate advanced a war powers resolution introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) to limit Trump’s action in Iran. According to the resolution, Congress “has not declared war upon Iran or any person or organization within Iran, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for the use of military force within or against Iran.”
“The use of military force within or against Iran (including the enforcement of a naval blockade) constitutes the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities within the meaning of section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution,” it says, going on to call for the removal of “United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
