Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced legislation to prohibit U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war.
“This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement. I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution,” Massie said.
“Signing on,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) replied.
Signing on.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 17, 2025
“I look forward to supporting this War Powers Resolution. The American people aren’t falling for it again. We were lied to about ‘weapons of mass destruction’ in Iraq that killed millions + forever changed lives. It’s unconst’l for Trump to go to war without a vote in Congress,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) said.
I look forward to supporting this War Powers Resolution. The American people aren't falling for it again. We were lied to about "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq that killed millions + forever changed lives.
It's unconst'l for Trump to go to war without a vote in Congress. https://t.co/PJbtMtfwda
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) June 17, 2025
Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 11:
[The Congress shall have Power . . . ] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; . . .
The last time the U.S. Congress formally declared war was on December 8th, 1941, against Japan.
Fox News reports:
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced on Monday evening that he plans to introduce “a bipartisan War Powers Resolution” on Tuesday to prohibit American involvement in the Israel-Iran war.
“This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement. I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution,” Massie declared in a post on X.
Co-sponsors included AOC, Rep. Ro. Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and several other House Democrats.
Thank you to the original cosponsors of this War Powers Resolution: @repdonbeyer, @repcasar, @RepAOC, @replloyddoggett, @repchuygarcia, @RepValHoyle, @RepJayapal, @RepSummerLee, @RepMcGovern, @Ilhan, @RepPressley, @repdeliaramirez, @RepRashida, and @NydiaVelazquez.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 17, 2025
A closer look:
“If AOC and Massie are a yes, that’s a good bet that I’ll be a no. Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea are not our friends or our allies — in fact they are working to undermine us and destabilize the free world. A nuclear Iran will seek to eradicate Israel and all but ensure WWIII. We cannot allow that to happen. We must stand with Israel,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) said.
If AOC and Massie are a yes, that’s a good bet that I’ll be a no.
Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea are not our friends or our allies — in fact they are working to undermine us and destabilize the free world.
A nuclear Iran will seek to eradicate Israel and all but ensure… https://t.co/lJzGZSHXXT
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) June 17, 2025
POLITICO noted:
Efforts to reassert congressional power in American involvement abroad can bring together strange bedfellows — in this case, a host of leading progressives and a conservative hard-liner who is a frequent thorn in GOP leaders’ sides. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) has proposed a similar resolution in the Senate, though he has yet to announce any Republican cosponsors.
Joining Khanna as co-sponsors, Massie said, are Democratic Reps. Don Beyer of Virginia, Greg Casar of Texas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez of New York, Lloyd Doggett of Texas, Chuy Garcia and Delia Ramirez of Illinois, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Jim McGovern and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
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