Iran war powers vote

House Democrats ready Iran war powers vote

Democrats are preparing to debate a measure to rein in Trump’s authority in Iran Wednesday with a final vote Thursday.

By Riley Rogerson and Meredith Lee Hill

House Democrats are preparing to force a vote on a war powers resolution this week in a last ditch effort to push back against the Trump administration’s military operation in Iran before the summer recess.

Rep. Greg Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, confirmed his party’s plans after a closed-door leadership meeting Wednesday, saying he anticipates debate on the resolution later in the day followed by a final vote Thursday.

In an effort to shore up bipartisan backing for the effort, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) — who is sponsoring the measure — called Republicans over the weekend to line up support.

She said in an interview Tuesday that her top priority was ensuring that Democrats retain “yes” votes from the four House Republicans who helped advance a similar resolution in June: Reps. Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

“I do think with everything that’s happened this last weekend, and losing more troops, and the continuing strikes,” Jayapal said. “It would be an important move if we could make sure we were able to hold the Republicans, maybe add some Republicans, and hold all the Democrats.”

Democrats succeeded in facilitating adoption of a separate, bipartisan war powers resolution, which aimed to restrain the Pentagon’s authority to use force in Iran, in both chambers last month. But while the victory was an embarrassing rebuke of President Donald Trump, he was not bound to comply with the measure and has gone on to make his own decisions regarding the overseas conflict.

A debate among House Democrats about whether to bring another nonbinding Iran resolution to the floor was reignited over the weekend after three U.S. troops were killed in the region. With a five-week August recess scheduled to start Friday, Democratic leadership decided to seek another opportunity to compel House Republicans to weigh in on the unpopular conflict ahead of the midterms.

Speaker Mike Johnson could foil Democrats’ intentions by canceling Thursday votes and sending members home early for the extended break through September. No decisions have been made yet about whether he will go that route.