Letter to James Inhofe, Chairman of Senate Committee on Armed Services, Jack Reed, Ranking Member on Senate Committee on Armed Services, Adam Smith, Chairman on House Armed Services Committee, and Mac Thornberry, Ranking Member on House Armed Services Committee - Murphy, Blumenthal, Bipartisan Colleagues Call for Inclusion of Bipartisan Iran Amendment in Final NDAA

Letter

Dear Chairman Inhofe, Ranking Member Reed, Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Thornberry:

As you work towards a final conference report for the Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA, we write to express our strong support for the inclusion of a bipartisan amendment to prohibit an unauthorized and unconstitutional war with Iran.

House Amendment 423, a bipartisan amendment offered by Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL), was adopted by a strong bipartisan vote of 251 to 170. A bipartisan majority of the Senate also supported a similar amendment offered by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Rand Paul (R-KY). Both of these amendments would prohibit the use of funds for military force against Iran unless authorized by Congress or such use of force is consistent with the War Powers Resolution.

We have no illusions about the potential threats that Iran may pose, or its destabilizing activities in the Middle East. These bipartisan amendments do not interfere with the United States Armed Forces' ability to defend themselves. But under our constitution, any war requires congressional authorization.

Bipartisan majorities in both chambers have spoken up to defend Congress' constitutional authority over matters of war and peace. With regional tensions high, the risk of the U.S. entering into war with Iran without authorization remains acute. As a result, we believe that the final conference report for the FY 2020 NDAA must include the bipartisan amendment to prohibit an unauthorized and unconstitutional war with Iran.

Thank you for your work on the FY 2020 NDAA and we look forward to working with you on this very important matter.

Sincerely,