The War Powers Resolution, which would essentially stop the war on Iran, was defeated in the Senate by five votes, and on April 16 was defeated in the House by one vote, 213-214. Despite the loss, the close vote clearly shows the rapidly changing mood in the Congress and in the population against the war.
In a sign that Democrats had solidified in opposition to the war, three congressmen who had voted against a previous resolution in March (which failed 212-219)—Henry Cuellar of Texas, Greg Landsman of Ohio, and Juan Vargas of California—voted in favor of this attempt. Jared Golden of Maine was the sole Democrat to vote in opposition, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky the only Republican to vote for passage. Ohio’s Warren Davidson voted present, after having voted in favor last month.
Cuellar announced his support for the resolution after Trump warned that a “whole civilization will die” if Iran did not agree to his demands. “When the United States echoes the rhetoric of its adversaries, we risk weakening the values that have long defined our leadership. America has always stood for something higher, especially restraint and moral clarity, and that’s what the world expects from us,” Cuellar said, adding that information he received about U.S. strategy in the conflict has “not been sufficient.” Cuellar, the son of Mexican-Americans, represents the border area of Texas. He is a lawyer who earned a PhD from the University of Texas, and a master’s in defense and strategic studies from the Naval War College.
