Rep. Chip Roy On Democrats' War Powers Resolution

Rep. Chip Roy released the following statement Thursday afternoon regarding his vote on H. Con. Res. 83 — Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran:

Rep. Elissa Slotkin and some of her Democrat colleagues should be commended for moving the Democrat conference to a more substantively appropriate resolution that is rightly focused more on ensuring Congress protects its Constitutional duty in declaring war.

Despite their best efforts, the resolution unfortunately, due to timing, inherently questions the recent strikes against Suleimani. As Americans, we should be united that the death of Suleimani was justified considering present and future threats to our men and women in uniform, as well as our national security interests. The resolution is therefore not something that I - as well as many of my freedom-focused GOP colleagues - can support at this time.

I cannot express how grateful I am that there is a growing consensus among Democrats and Republicans that we should be focused on our role in authorization of force. I am hopeful we will work together soon to repeal the 2002 authorization of force (RE: Iraq), and then pass a new, updated Authorization of Force to supplant the 2001 authorization of force.

Our nation will be stronger and more unified if we debate, vote on, and pass an updated 2020-relevant AUMF with a clear mission and strategic objectives, perhaps with time limits on the authorization to force Congressional input.