Calls for final House-Senate conference report to include bar on unauthorized war with Iran

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and lead sponsor of the bipartisan Senate amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prevent an unauthorized war with Iran that secured majority Senate support, issued the following statement after the House voted to adopt a similar amendment offered by U.S. Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as part of the House NDAA:

“I was proud that a bipartisan majority in the Senate stepped up to prevent the unauthorized use of military force against Iran and uphold Congress’ constitutionalresponsibility to declare war, and now both houses of Congress have spoken up,” said Udall. “Today, the House joined us in sending a clear message to the president that it is time to end this administration’s dangerous and reckless approach to Iran, voting to block funds from being used for war without explicit authorization from Congress. Next, House and Senate leaders must recognize the will of Congress and include a strong provision to bar an unauthorized war with Iran in the final version of the defense bill that comes out of conference.”

The Senate’s historic vote on the bipartisan Udall-Kaine amendment to prevent an unconstitutional war with Iran received 51 votes in support the amendment – a bipartisan majority. The final vote tally was 50-40, but the amendment was not adopted because it did not meet a 60-vote threshold.  The House amendment is now included in the House NDAA, which is expected to soon receive a final vote on the House floor.  After that, the two bills will need to be reconciled by a House-Senate conference committee before being sent to the president for signature.