Duckworth Statement After Senate Advances Bipartisan War Powers Resolution to Block Further Military Action in Venezuela

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate advanced a bipartisan War Powers Resolution—which Duckworth cosponsored—that would block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.

“It is indisputable that Nicolás Maduro was a brutal dictator. But it is not America’s responsibility to go around the world using our military to push regime change when there is no imminent threat to our national security and then running foreign countries when we have our own serious problems here at home.

“Our Constitution is clear: only the American people, through their elected representatives in Congress, can authorize a President to engage in acts of war. It entrusts them with this solemn responsibility because it is the American people—not any single occupant of the Oval Office—who will be forced to live with the consequences of those decisions.

“While Donald Trump may never understand that the true costs of war are measured not only in dollars and cents, but in the blood, sweat and sacrifices of our troops and our military families, our servicemembers know all too well just how costly it can be when our nation engages in a war for oil without a plan for what comes next. We owe it to our troops, our military families and to all of the American people to fully consider those costs before engaging in war.

“As Donald Trump continues ignoring this Constitutional requirement, today’s bipartisan vote in the Senate is a step toward blocking the President from further escalating military force against Venezuela, reasserting our Constitutional authority and sending an important message that Trump must end his march into another reckless forever war with no justification and no end state.”

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