Mike Wolanin | The Republic Sen. Todd Young answers questions during an interview at The Republic in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Young discussed the Ships for America Act, which he co-sponosed with Sen. Mark Kelly and Congressmen John Garamendi and Trent Kelly, the ongoing crisis in Gaza, tariffs, immigration, redistricting and his past comments about President Trump.
Bartholomew County’s congressional delegation voted unanimously this week against reining in President Donald Trump’s war against Iran.
On Thursday, Rep. Jefferson Shreve, R-Ind., and Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., voted against a resolution that would have curbed Trump’s powers to unilaterally wage war against Iran without congressional authorization, according to congressional records.
The House narrowly rejected the resolution Thursday in a 212-219 vote, an early sign of unease in Congress over the rapidly widening conflict that is reordering U.S. priorities at home and abroad, The Associated Press reported.
On Wednesday, Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., voted against a similar measure that ultimately failed to clear the Senate.
The votes are seen as a clarifying snapshot of political support for the U.S.-Israel war against Iran and Trump’s rationale for bypassing Congress, which alone has the power to declare war, according to wire reports.
So far, six U.S. military members have been killed in the war, and Trump has said more Americans could die.
More than 1,230 people in Iran have died, including 165 people who were killed — many of them schoolgirls — when an Iranian elementary school was bombed during U.S.-Israel strikes.
Israel has denied involvement in the elementary school bombing, NPR reported. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is investigating what happened and “we never target civilian targets.” UNESCO said the bombing of the primary school is “a grave violation of humanitarian law.”
Trump’s Republican Party, which narrowly controls the House and Senate, largely sees the conflict with Iran not as the start of a new war, but the end of a government that has long menaced the West, according to wire reports. The operation has killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which some view as an opportunity for regime change, though others warn of a chaotic power vacuum.
For Democrats, Trump’s attack on Iran, influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is a war of choice that is testing the balance of powers in the Constitution.
Crossover coalitions emerged among those in Congress, according to wire reports. Two Republicans joined most Democrats in voting for the war powers resolution, while four Democrats joined Republicans to reject it.
The war powers resolution, if signed into law, would have immediately halted Trump’s ability to conduct the war unless Congress approved the military action. The president would likely veto it.
Young released a statement about his vote on Wednesday, saying, “For decades, Iran has funded terror around the globe, including against Americans and our allies. The Iranian regime has refused to dismantle its nuclear program despite repeated U.S. efforts at diplomacy, and Iran’s ballistic missiles are a major threat to regional and global stability. Since 1979, Iran has posed a core threat to U.S. national security and to the entire Middle East. Based on the recent information shared with Congress, there was a very real possibility of Iran escalating those threats against us and our service members, so President Trump made the difficult decision to direct strikes.
“The United States and our allies are now in conflict with a brutal, hostile, and dangerous regime. I believe that danger will only grow if we limit the President’s military options at this critical moment. An abrupt disengagement could pose increased risks to American lives and interests. I want to do my part to help this effort succeed and end Iran’s reign of terror.
“At the same time, the American people have questions pertaining to the nature of threats and the risks to our troops and homeland. Congress must take a more active role in ensuring answers to those questions are clear and timely. Hearings and public discussion help keep our constituents informed, and they help administrations sharpen their strategies in response to congressional feedback. Too often in recent years, Congress has fallen short of our responsibility to educate, inform, and clarify through vigorous oversight regardless of political party.
“The President intends for this to be a short operation, but as the conflict develops, I urge Congress to engage in oversight and policymaking, including evaluating any potential requests for additional resources or providing additional authorities. I pray for the safety of our troops, our allies, and the Iranian people, and for victory to end five decades of terror by the Islamic Republic.”
Trump has scrambled to win support for the nearly week-old conflict as Americans of all political persuasions take stock, according to wire reports. Administration officials spent hours behind closed doors on Capitol Hill this week trying to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.
At the same time, the Trump administration has offered multiple, sometimes conflicting explanations for launching its war against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, without first seeking the buy-in of Congress and U.S. allies, according to the AP.
Officials have cited Iran’s nuclear program, which Trump previously said had been “completely destroyed” after U.S.-Israel strikes last year; Iran’s ballistic missiles; threats from proxy forces; Israel’s security; and that Israel was going to attack Iran anyway as justifications.
There’s more that’s unclear about the widening war launched by the president and Board of Peace leader — including an exit strategy, a timeline and who Trump wants to take control of Iran from what he calls the “sick people” who run it now, according to wire reports.
Hegseth said that the war could extend eight weeks, twice as long as the president first estimated. Trump has left open the possibility of sending U.S. troops into what has largely been a bombing campaign.
—The Associated Press contributed to this report.
