Four House Republicans joined nearly all Democrats on Wednesday to pass legislation aimed at limiting U.S. military action against Iran. The House voted 215-208 to require congressional authorization for any military hostilities against Iran. A similar measure had previously passed in the Senate.
Representative Jared Golden was the only Democrat to switch his vote from previous attempts, supporting the resolution after advocating for a straightforward approach last month. The Republicans who supported the measure included Thomas Massie (R-KY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Tom Barrett (R-MI). Kevin Kiley (I-CA), who aligns with Republicans, opposed the resolution.
Fitzpatrick stated that the White House did not attempt to influence his vote, while Barrett expressed that his position on the issue was well-known. The vote follows a previous attempt by House GOP leadership to delay the resolution before the Memorial Day recess.
This vote marks a significant increase in Republican defections compared to earlier votes this year. The resolution will now proceed to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future and is likely to encounter a presidential veto if passed. The Senate had previously advanced a related bill with a vote of 50-47, with three Republican senators absent. The 1973 War Powers Resolution limits presidential military action to 60 days without congressional approval, allowing for a one-time 30-day extension under certain conditions. The White House maintains that the current situation does not meet the threshold requiring congressional authorization due to an ongoing ceasefire with Iran.