The Senate approved a House-passed war powers resolution on Tuesday to end hostilities with Iran in a symbolic rebuke of President Trump’s handling of the conflict as he tries to negotiate a lasting peace deal.
The 50-48 vote – the 10th time Democrats have forced on the matter since Mr. Trump went to war to permanently end Iran’s nuclear program – succeeded because ot the absence of two Republican senators who would have voted against the war powers measure.
“Today, Congress stood up to Donald Trump and voted to end his costly, unnecessary, and devastating war with Iran,” Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer of New York said. “The message from the only branch of government with the power to declare war is unmistakable: the Trump administration must withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities in Iran.”
Taking advantage of Kentucky GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell’s absence this week as he recovers from an unspecified medical issue, Senate Democrats brought up the war powers resolution that passed the House earlier this month, knowing they would have a majority to approve it.
Sen. David McCormick, Pennsylvania Republican, also missed the vote while traveling with the president to his home state for a factory visit and remarks on the economy.
In bringing up the House-passed war powers resolution, Democrats were able to skirt procedural votes needed to advance Senate versions and hold an up-or-down vote on whether to end hostilities with Iran.
However, the House-passed measure the Senate cleared is a concurrent resolution that does not carry the force of law and does not go to Mr. Trump’s desk for signature. The president would have vetoed it if it did.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said that without the “attendance issues,” Republicans would have been able to defeat the war powers measure.
Passing it is not the symbolic message most Republicans want to send as the Trump administration tries to convince Iran to give up on its nuclear ambitions, the South Dakota Republican said.
“I would prefer, obviously, that we give them maximum leverage when they’re trying to negotiate this deal,” Mr. Thune told The Washington Times. “These votes are just political, really, and initiated by Democrats who are not going to be interested in helping no matter what kind of a deal they get.”
Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky voted with Senate Democrats in support of the measure.
GOP Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Warren Davidson of Ohio helped Democrats pass the war powers resolution in the House.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat in either chamber to vote in opposition.
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who has led Democrats’ war powers efforts, said the repeated votes are not just about standing up for the American people who disapprove of the war with Iran but also reasserting Congress’ constitutional power to declare war.
He said the lack of kinetic action taking place amid the “fragile ceasefire” is the perfect time to pass the measure.
“We’ve stepped back from the most active phase of the war, and that’s the perfect time for Congress to step back and ask what the next chapter should be, rather than allowing one man to make that decision,” Mr. Kaine said.
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