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. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the recognition.

Mr. Speaker, I have been listening closely to this debate since it began. The arguments being made by half of the Representatives of the people of the United States, the arguments as to why they should abrogate their constitutionally mandated duty, are bizarre to me.

Most of the arguments have not been arguments. The arguments are that Iran is evil, that they hate the U.S., and that they mean us ill. The majority will find no argument over here that that is true.

Oddly enough, when the Founders wrote the Constitution, they didn't say we shall declare war only when it is not clear that the belligerent is evil or means us ill. It was a categorical demand that the Representatives of the people, because blood and treasure would be consumed, that the Representatives of the people not just be informed but that they provide authorization.

I have heard the majority say that the danger was imminent. I am the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee. I can say with authority that, in the last 10 years, Iran's ability to create mayhem, while still very substantial, is at an ebb.

The President himself said the nuclear capabilities were ``obliterated,'' his word. Hezbollah has been largely rolled up in Beirut by the Lebanese Armed Forces. We have a pretty good sense of what the Houthis are capable of and how to counter them. If the argument is imminence, that is absurd. There was no imminent threat to the United States on Friday or Saturday of last week.

By the way, the argument that my friend from New York just made, which is that Obama did it, is beyond absurd. I wasn't here when Obama did it. We weren't asked to vote on it. I remember telling the Vice President at the time that our Constitution demands congressional assent.

Congress was not notified. It was not briefed. That doesn't matter. What matters is that the Constitution is clear that, with six dead Americans, with our treasure being consumed, we must approve this action.

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Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, it is not about informing.

By the way, this Congress was not informed. Mr. Speaker, eight Members of this Congress were informed.

Set aside, if you will, for a moment the Constitution. Should the Representatives of the people authorize an action that will kill many of those people and that will consume blood and treasure? Our Framers certainly said the answer to that question is yes.

Mr. Speaker, let's not abrogate our constitutional duty or our constitutional power. Vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

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