U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) delivered a Senate floor speech July 30 urging colleagues to approve her War Powers Resolution that would direct the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes continued military action.
In a release distributed by her office, Gillibrand framed the legislation as a constitutional check on what she called an “unauthorized, illegal war with Iran,” saying the conflict has harmed American families by driving up energy prices and has cost American lives.
Her office said the war has resulted in 18 American service member deaths and highlighted the recent death of Sergeant Angel Rampersad of Queens, whom Gillibrand named during her remarks. The senator said the conflict has increased costs for New York families, citing Joint Economic Committee data that the average New York family has paid an additional $432 on gas since the war began.
What the resolution would do
Gillibrand’s Senate Joint Resolution would require the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress expressly authorizes the use of military force.
