By: Rita Cook
Texas Metro News
https://texasmetronews.com
WASHINGTON D.C. – There were four House Republicans who broke through the wall of blue and red last week and voted with the Democrats to pass the War Powers Resolution.
This resolution means Congress is invoking or attempting to enforce the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which is a federal law that limits the President’s authority to instigate military conflicts without legislative approval.
Many are wondering what the wrath of Pres. Donald Trump will be toward Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom Barrett of Michigan, and Warren Davidson of Ohio.
With the addition of these four Republicans voting yes and with Republicans absent from the vote and the Democratic caucus aligning the Resolution passed 215–208.
The Resolution now has the power after a few more steps to check executive war power rules. Those rules include in the future there must be a 48-hour notification before Trump can commit U.S. armed forces to military action or substantially enlarge troops in a foreign nation.
There is also a rule in which troops can only be deployed for 60 days without congressional authorization. Trump is then given an additional 30 days safely to withdraw the troops if Congress has not declared war or passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF).
Also to point out, during a conflict, Congress can pass a concurrent resolution (or joint resolution of disapproval) ordering the President to immediately disengage the troops and end hostilities.
In the case of the current conflict between the United States and Iran this Resolution directs Trump to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran.
The next step in the resolution process is passage in the Senate. However, before that can happen there is a multi-step process.
To date, the Senate has not scheduled a date for the final floor vote to pass the Iran War Powers Resolution.
To move the passage in the Senate along the first procedural step on May 19, 2026, the Senate voted 50-47 to successfully discharge the resolution from the Foreign Relations committee. When that vote took place, it was then allowed to move to the full Senate floor.
Now the Republican-controlled Senate must schedule and vote on a “motion to proceed” to begin official floor debate, and that will require a simple majority.
Then the debate begins and that is when opponents can filibuster the bill. Overcoming a filibuster requires a 60-vote threshold to end debate, and this could be a huge issue in the narrowly divided chamber.
One must scratch their head, and wonder will the Iran war already be over by the time the government gets around to addressing and passing this resolution?
Being pursued as a concurrent resolution, this means if the senate does not pass the resolution, it still does not require Trump’s signature to take effect.
For a bit of history, the War Powers Resolution was passed over President Richard Nixon’s veto in the wake of the Vietnam War to prevent future presidents from engaging in extended, undeclared conflicts. To that end, when Congress uses the War Powers Resolution like it intends to with the Iran conflict, it can block or end U.S. involvement. The Resolution also serves as a legislative mechanism to reassert Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war.
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.
