House Passes Second War Powers Rebuke on Iran as Senate's Version Falls Short Before Recess
The House voted 214-208 on Thursday to direct President Trump to end U.S. hostilities against Iran, with four Republicans crossing party lines, but a parallel Senate measure failed 47-49 hours later, leaving the symbolic rebuke without teeth as lawmakers scattered for a five-week recess.
The dominant story on Capitol Hill this week was Congress's renewed clash with President Trump over the ongoing conflict with Iran. The resolution passed the House by a vote of 214 to 208, and while it is not legally binding, the resolution represents a symbolic rebuke to President Trump over a war that lawmakers never voted to authorize. It was the second such rebuke passed by the House since the start of the war.
The measure, a concurrent resolution led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, directs the president to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran absent congressional authorization. Because concurrent resolutions are not sent to the president, they carry no force of law. The House resolution amounts to a significant rebuke. But even if it passed the Senate, it would not compel the administration to end the war. Concurrent resolutions, which are not presented to the president for signature or veto, lack the force of law.
The four Republicans who broke ranks argued the conflict has exceeded the 60-day window the War Powers Act allows before Congress must authorize military action. Those Republicans said the Trump administration needs congressional approval to continue hostilities against Iran, because the conflict is long past a 60-day deadline set by the War Powers Act to obtain authorization for use of military force. Speaker Mike Johnson has rejected that view, telling reporters he does not believe Congress needs to authorize the campaign.
The votes came against a backdrop of intensifying fighting. According to NPR, citing the Pentagon, the votes came at a moment when attacks between Iran and the U.S. appear to be intensifying. Eighteen U.S. troops have died since fighting broke out in February, but four have died since July 17. U.S. forces have also suffered nearly 500 injuries, with 100 of those coming in the past two weeks.
In the Senate, a nearly identical effort fell short. Shortly after the House vote, Senate Democrats tried to advance a war powers resolution of their own, but the measure failed 47 to 49. CNN reported the crossover cut both directions: Republican Sen. Susan Collins voted with Democrats in effort to limit the president's war powers, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted with the rest of the Republican conference to reject the measure. Jayapal suggested some Senate Republicans who oppose the war deliberately abstained to avoid an on-the-record "no" vote.
Beyond Iran, the House cleared other business before leaving town. It passed H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, by a vote of 232-188. Earlier in the week the House also advanced a stopgap spending measure; according to The Washington Times, the House passed a bill Tuesday evening that would keep the government funded through Dec. 4, but the Senate is preparing an alternative stopgap measure. The vote was 220-205, with all but six House Democrats voting in opposition. Current funding does not lapse until Sept. 30.
The Senate has now wrapped its pre-recess work. The Senate stands adjourned until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 27th. At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Walter Clayton to be Director of National Intelligence. Majority Leader John Thune also stepped back from the annual defense bill for now, as Majority Leader Thune withdrew his motion to proceed to S. 4784, the FY2027 NDAA. Lawmakers are expected to be largely out of Washington for the coming weeks.
Highlights: - The House adopted H.Con.Res. 89, sponsored by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), by a 214-208 vote (Roll no. 282); Republicans Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Tom Barrett (Mich.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio) joined all Democrats. - The Senate rejected a motion to discharge its companion measure, S.J.Res. 180, by 47-49, with Republican Susan Collins voting yes and Democrat John Fetterman voting no. - The House also passed H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, 232-188 (Roll no. 283), with 19 Democrats joining all voting Republicans.