Washington, DC – National Iranian American Council President Jamal Abdi released the following statement after a Senate vote to invoke cloture and begin formal debate on the National Defense Authorization Act was rejected amid growing concern over the Trump administration resuming the war against Iran:
“Today’s vote is a victory for the growing movement to force President Trump to end his illegal war on Iran. NIAC and a coalition of national organizations including J Street, Center for International Policy, ACLU, and Arms Control Association called on lawmakers to block the defense authorization bill unless it explicitly prohibited funding to continue the war. We applaud those Senators who acted and demonstrated that Congress will not stand by while the President openly defies the law.
“President Trump launched this war without Congressional authorization and is now ignoring a Congressionally passed mandate under the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran. The President cannot violate the Constitution, disregard Congress, and expect lawmakers to keep funding the machinery of his war as though nothing has happened.
“Congress is a coequal branch of government, not a rubber stamp for presidential lawlessness. Blocking the NDAA sends an unmistakable message: if the President refuses to obey the law, Congress can and must bring the Washington war machine’s business to a halt.
“The vast majority of Americans oppose this war. Congress has voted to end it. And today, Senators began using the leverage necessary to enforce that decision. This is exactly the kind of concrete action NIAC, our members, and our coalition partners have been demanding.
“Now Congress must hold the line. No defense bill, appropriations package, supplemental, reconciliation measure, or other major national legislation should advance as long as this unauthorized war continues without an explicit prohibition on funding it. The President has chosen defiance. Congress must answer with consequences.”
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