U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Supports Introduction of No War Against Iran Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today supported the introduction of the No War Against Iran Act which denies the Pentagon of any funds for unauthorized use of military force against Iran. A measure to prohibit funds for an unconstitutional war with Iran passed by a bipartisan 251-member vote in the House of Representatives last year, though it was later stripped from the National Defense Authorization Act enacted in December.

“The Constitution is very clear that only Congress has the authority to declare war and I am supporting this legislation to prevent the start of an unauthorized war with Iran. I am always guided by the hard lessons that should be learned when America chooses to go to war in the Middle East,” said Senator Baldwin. “After decades of U.S. military engagement in Middle East conflicts, Congress must not allow this administration to repeat the mistakes of the past. We have a constitutional responsibility to prevent the President from going to war with Iran and sending more American troops into harm’s way without congressional authorization.”

In the Senate, the No War Against Iran Act is sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and is cosponsored by Senators Baldwin, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) introduced a companion measure to defund unauthorized military action against Iran in the House of Representatives, with 58 cosponsors.

Senator Baldwin has long supported de-escalating tensions with Iran. In 2015, Baldwin supported the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an historic international agreement with Iran and the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, and Russia, that would have verifiably prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In 2018, President Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the international agreement and has since continued a policy of escalation with Iran. Senator Baldwin also signed on in support of a bipartisan war powers resolution introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to force a debate and vote in Congress to prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran. A companion resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), which passed the House with bipartisan support, 224-194. Now the Senate will soon vote on the bipartisan war powers resolution cosponsored by Baldwin.