Pence votes against Iran resolution

Greg Pence

Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, voted against a resolution asserting that President Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran.

The war powers resolution is not binding on the president and would not require his signature, according to The Associated Press. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, nonetheless insisted it “has real teeth” because “it is a statement of the Congress of the United States.”

The measure will “protect American lives and values” by limiting Trump’s military actions, Pelosi said. “The administration must de-escalate and must prevent further violence.”

The House passed the resolution, 224-194, with three Republicans voting in support, The Associated Press reported. Eight Democrats opposed the measure.

“Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or military” unless Congress declares war on that country or enacts legislation authorizing use of force to prevent an attack on the U.S. and its forces, the five-page resolution states.

Pelosi scheduled the House vote as the United States and Iran are engaged in their most serious confrontation since the 1979 Islamic revolution and takeover of the U.S. Embassy, the The Associated Press reported.

Earlier this week, Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles at two military bases housing American troops in Iraq without causing any casualties. Iran said the attack was retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the architect of its regional security strategy, in Iraq on Jan. 3.

Pence criticized the House measure as “ill-timed” and “reckless political theatre.”

“The War Powers resolution is ill-timed and reckless political theatre from @SpeakerPelosi with the sole purpose of undermining Commander-in-Chief @realDonaldTrump,” Pence tweeted on Thursday. “A resolution like this emboldens our enemies and sends the wrong message to our armed forces abroad.”

Before the vote, Pence took to the floor of the House on Thursday to, among other things, voice “firm support” for Trump’s leadership.

“I rise today to stand in firm support of President Trump’s leadership in his decisive actions against evil terrorists,” Pence said. “America and the world are safer without Qasem Soleimani.”

A similar war powers measure by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, faces an uphill fight in the GOP-run Senate, The Associated Press reported. Kaine’s efforts received a boost Thursday as Republican Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, said he might support the war powers measure. Two other Republican senators said Wednesday they would back Kaine’s plan.

“We are members of a separate and distinct branch of government. It is our duty not to take anyone’s word for things as we are dealing with matters of life and death,” Young said, adding that he wished Trump administration officials had provided more intelligence information during a briefing Wednesday on a U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general.