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Evans Votes to Restrict President's War Powers

January 17, 2020
E-Newsletter

Last week, I voted for legislation that would sharply limit President Trump's ability to use military force against Iran without first securing congressional approval.

I believe the American people do not want a war with Iran! President Trump's actions, in my view, were unnecessary, reckless and made Americans less safe. These events underline why we must return war powers to Congress as the Constitution calls for. The legislation the House passed would do that, and the Senate should vote on it within days. We cannot have American lives at risk because of an impulsive action from this president or any future president.

When the founders wrote our Constitution in Philadelphia, they spelled this out very clearly: "The Congress shall have Power To … declare War." It's right there in Article I, Section 8. The founders gave the war power to the branch of government that is most accountable to the people.

War must be a last resort – we need a return to a diplomacy-first approach and returning war powers to Congress where they belong would do a great deal to accomplish that.