Civic Register
| 5.7.20
Senate Effort to Override President Trump's Veto of Iran War Powers Resolution Fails
Do you support President Trump’s veto of the Iran War Powers Resolution?
UPDATE - 5/7/20 (2:25pm Eastern): The Senate's attempt to override President Donald Trump's veto of the Iran War Powers Resolution failed 49-44, well short of the two-thirds majority required.
All Democrats in attendance voted to override the veto. They were joined by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Lee (R-UT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Todd Young (R-IN).
Countable's original article appears below.
What’s the story?
- President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would require the withdrawal of U.S. military personnel engaged in hostilities against Iran, which uses authority under the War Powers Resolution, passed the Senate back in February and the House in March.
- The move makes good on a promise Trump made to veto the resolution when it reached his desk. In his veto message, President Trump said the resolution is “unnecessary because it rests upon a faulty premise” and that the U.S. “is not engaged in the use of force against Iran.”
- The veto message explained that the January 2, 2020, airstrike in Iraq that eliminated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in response to attacks by Iran and its proxies against U.S. forces in Iraq was authorized under the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq. It adds that past administrations used the 2002 AUMF to respond to attacks & threats by Iran-backed militias, including those led by Soleimani.
What will happen in the Senate?
- The Senate will vote at 1:30pm Eastern on Thursday to try to override President Trump’s veto of the resolution.
- To override a presidential veto, both chambers of Congress must pass the legislation with a two-thirds supermajority vote.
- Given that the Senate previously passed the resolution with only a 55-45 simple majority, it’s unlikely that the chamber will be successful in the veto override effort.
- When the Senate initially considered the resolution, it was supported by all Democrats plus Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Susan Collins (R-CO), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Todd Young (R-IN).
Other Recent Congressional Actions on Iran War Powers
- On January 30, 2020, the House adopted the No War Against Iran Act as an amendment on a 236-166 vote that was mostly along party-lines, which added the legislation to a broader bill that also repealed the 2002 AUMF that passed by the same margin.
- On June 28, 2019, the Senate held the longest vote in its history (10 hours and 8 minutes) to vote on an amendment that would’ve required congressional approval for military action against Iran. The amendment vote failed 50-40.
— Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force / Public Domain)
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