Directing the President Pursuant to Section 5(C) of the War Powers Resolution to Remove United States Armed Forces From Unauthorized Hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Floor Speech

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Mr. SELF. Mr. Speaker, I rise here in response to my colleague from across the aisle. I thought we were talking about the War Powers Act and not the Democrats' social programs. That is what I am going to do.

President Trump's decision to strike Iran is not starting a forever war. It is ending a forever war. For half a century, the Islamic Republic of Iran has cast a shadow over the Middle East and trapped the region in a dark age. When the regime chants ``death to America, death to Israel,'' they mean it.

The Islamic Republic is responsible for the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans, thousands of Israelis, and tens of thousands of their own people, including up to 30,000 in just the last few weeks. Iran has slaughtered more Americans than any other terrorist regime in the world, and they will continue to kill Americans until they are stopped.

Iran is the number one sponsor of terrorism in the world by nonstate actors, something that is not even contemplated by the War Powers Act. The regime funds, trains, and equips countless Islamic terrorist groups, including the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and many others across Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the region. For years, Iran has leveraged these terrorists to wage war against and kill Americans and countless civilians throughout the region.

Just last weekend in my home State, a gunman horrifically killed three innocent people and injured four others in Austin, Texas, while reportedly wearing a sweatshirt that read ``Property of Allah'' and a shirt with an Islamic Republic of Iran flag on it. While law enforcement continues its investigation into a connection with the Islamic Republic, Americans must understand the enemy is within the gates.

The current regime in Iran is the poster child for Islam and sharia law, a culture of violence and domination that is totally incompatible with individual freedoms, our Constitution, and our heritage.

Islam is an existential threat to our constitutional republic. By conducting this joint operation with our partners in the region to defend against tyranny, we are defending Western civilization.

Furthermore, the Iranian people have overwhelmingly demonstrated a clear will to overthrow and change the radical regime. Tens of thousands of civilians have sacrificed their lives as a testimony to this point. By giving the green light to Epic Fury, President Trump is giving the Iranian people a fighting chance to alter the course of history in the Middle East and the world.

As the Article II branch, the President is undertaking his constitutional duty as Commander in Chief to defend the United States from a tyrannical, murderous Islamic regime.

Finally, I would also like to note that since the War Powers Act was enacted, every President, both Republican and Democrat, has agreed that this law is unconstitutional.

Instead of airing personal grievances with the President, the American people and our servicemembers would be better off if Congress focused on reopening the Department of Homeland Security to prevent attacks on American soil and support the President in executing his Article II duty.

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Mr. SELF. Mr. Speaker, while I agree that this body should engage in discussions about the War Powers Act, this is not the appropriate time. U.S. troops are currently in harm's way, and they need to have our full-throated support, full stop. I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution.

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