Senate Republicans blocked Democrats’ War Powers Resolution 

Senate will soon vote on Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, cosponsored by Welch, to stop transfer of taxpayer-funded bombs and armored bulldozers to Israel 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an impassioned speech from the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) denounced President Trump’s reckless war on Iran and Lebanon, which is putting U.S. service members in harm’s way, killing civilians across the Middle East, and raising costs for Vermont families. Senator Welch urged his Republican colleagues and the president to stand up to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is actively undermining peace negotiations with weapons funded by American taxpayers. 

Senator Welch called for a diplomatic resolution to end the war, and urged his colleagues to vote in favor of peace: “How did this happen? We got here because the President did disregard his own promises of staying out of Middle East wars. He disregarded the American people by not leveling with them about what his plan was; his intentions were. He disregarded Congress entirely. And he’s totally disregarded our allies. So, is it any surprise that we find ourselves, right now, with President Trump stuck dealing with this situation that he created pretty much by himself?” said Senator Welch. “Instead of consulting with our allies or even his own administration, the president relied on Prime Minister Netanyahu, inviting him to the Situation Room…never been done before. Netanyahu assured him: no problem—you bomb, we bomb, the regime will collapse. You bomb, we bomb, the Strait of Hormuz will stay open. President Trump accepted that advice and rejected the advice of his own Cabinet officials, who called that for what it was: The Netanyahu advice was farcical.”  

Senator Welch also spoke on the importance of passing Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) Joint Resolutions of Disapproval: “It would require those of us in the United States Senate—those of us who, by virtue of our election, have the Article I authority to declare war—it would require us to say yes or no on where we stand. It would require us to accept our responsibility under the Constitution to do our job on the most profound question that affects the people of this country, and that is when, whether, and why, to commit this country to war.” 

Watch Senator Welch’s remarks below: 

The war in Iran, which was not approved or authorized by Congress, has killed 13 U.S. service members and injured more than 300. More than 1000 civilians in Iran and 1000 civilians in Lebanon have been killed. Thousands more civilians, including hundreds of children, have been injured. 

Senator Welch’s remarks came shortly after Senate Democrats forced a vote on a War Powers Resolution to end the war, the fourth forced vote since the war began. The measure, which was supported by Senator Welch, was blocked by Senate Republicans.  

The Senate is also expected to vote on two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs), led by Senator Sanders and cosponsored by Senator Welch, which would stop the transfer of U.S. taxpayer-funded bombs and armored bulldozers to Israel. The JRDs would prohibit the $151.8 million sale of bombs, and the $295 million sale of armored bulldozers used by Israel to demolish civilians’ homes in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. The resolutions are expected to come before the Senate for a vote soon. 

Read key excerpts of Senator Welch’s remarks below: 

“Thousands of civilians have been killed in these strikes. On average, 10 children a day have been killed in U.S.—Israeli airstrikes. Nearly 40% of the attacks have taken place in the heart of Tehran, a dense urban area. And 95% of those killed by bombs are civilians. This kind of bombing tells us that President Trump has made the Iranian people—the very people he promised to save—the adversary, the enemy, much more so than the Ayatollahs. 

“Mr. President, it is time to end this war of choice. This war that was chosen by an intemperate President. This war that is making Americans less secure. This war that is, and will continue to, impose extraordinary economic pain on our citizens.” 

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“As a first step in ending this war, I urge my colleagues to support Senator Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, which we will be taking up later today. Those resolutions would stop the United States from sending bombs—thousands of bombs—and armored bulldozers to Israel. These weapons are paid for by American taxpayers. We will be sending bombs to Israel at a time when we’re in a ceasefire—which I hope will continue. These bulldozers are being used to literally—literally—bulldoze entire villages in Lebanon on behalf of Israel’s intentions.”  

••• 

“Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will vote in favor of these JRDs, and I’m disappointed that we rejected Senator Duckworth’s resolution. We need this ceasefire to continue. We need the bombing to stop and stay stopped.” 

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