January 9, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 5 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H77]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TERMINATION OF USE OF ARMED FORCES TO ENGAGE IN HOSTILITIES IN OR 
                              AGAINST IRAN

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my colleague 
Representative Slotkin's resolution regarding war powers.
  First and foremost, I am extremely grateful that the Iranian 
ballistic missile attacks on A1 Asad Air Base and Erbil resulted in 
zero injuries or casualties to our U.S. servicemembers or Iraqi allies. 
As always, I will continue to prioritize the safety of our deployed 
government officials, servicemembers, and contractors.
  Madam Speaker, let me be clear: Qasem Soleimani was a terrorist, and 
I hope his removal from the battlefield will, in fact, improve U.S. 
security in the long run. That being said, in the wake of the strike on 
Soleimani, let us not forget that we invest in our highly capable 
military to promote stability, not to undermine it.
  Our Founding Fathers made abundantly clear in the Constitution that 
only Congress has the power to authorize use of military force. This 
resolution that we will be voting on later today is a necessary step to 
ensure deescalation with Iran while we await a clear strategy from the 
administration on how the President's actions will reduce the chances 
of Iran becoming a nuclear state.
  U.S. Forces will always retain the inherent right to self-defense; 
however, any further military actions that can lead to war will require 
congressional authorization.

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