AAPI Members of Congress React to Attack on Iran

WASHINGTON — AAPI members of Congress’ reactions to the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran were divided along party lines.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena): “President Trump has launched an unlawful war with Iran despite no imminent threat to the United States, no long-term strategy, no support from the American public, and no authorization from Congress.

“The House of Representatives must immediately take a vote on H.Con.Res. 38, a War Powers Resolution that I co-sponsor, to halt all military operations in Iran without congressional authorization.

“The Iranian regime is brutal, repressive, and has denied Iranians freedom and dignity for generations. These facts alone do not give President Trump the authority to unilaterally launch a major, preemptive military operation which puts so many lives at risk. Americans have already seen this playbook fail in Iraq and Afghanistan, at enormous cost.”

Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside): “President Trump has launched a major military operation in the Middle East without a clear objective and without making the case to Congress or the American people. This reckless action puts American troops at risk and edges us toward a wider regional war.

“Congress must immediately reconvene and pass an Iran War Powers Resolution to stop this before it spirals further.”

Rep. Young Kim (R-Anaheim Hills): “President Trump took decisive action in response to refusal by the Iranian regime to take diplomatic off-ramps, dismantle its nuclear program, and end its reign of terror against the United States and our allies.
“I stand with the Iranian people, who have made their desperation and courageous struggle for freedom clear. I hope for a swift and decisive operation that will pave the way for a more peaceful Middle East and a safer world.

“My prayers are with our brave U.S. service members risking their lives to protect our nation. I look forward to Congress being briefed on Operation Epic Fury.”

Rep. Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield): “For decades, the Iranian regime has relentlessly pursued nuclear weapons, funded terrorism through proxies including Hamas and Hezbollah, taken hundreds of American lives, and threatened our national security. President Trump and his administration have exhausted every diplomatic path in pursuit of peace to no avail. Today, Iran is facing the consequences of its evil actions against America and our allies.

“I stand firmly with our brave men and women in uniform carrying out Operation Epic Fury. I pray for their safety and for their families as they defend America and protect our national security. May God bless them, and may God bless America.”

Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento): “This is an illegal and irrational attack. The president is risking American lives and dragging us toward a broader conflict with no clear strategy and no clear end. Americans do not want this war.

“I condemn the Iranian regime. For decades, it has denied its people basic rights, imprisoned and tortured its own citizens, and fueled violence through terrorist proxies. The United States must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. But lasting change must come from within — and U.S. military intervention would only further destabilize the region.

“Let me be clear: only Congress has the authority to declare war. When the House reconvenes, we will vote on a War Powers Resolution to condemn this attack and reassert Congress’ constitutional role. I will support it. I will continue working to hold the president accountable for this reckless abuse of power. Our country and the world deserve better.”

Rep. Derek Tran (D-Cypress): “President Trump’s decision to launch unilateral strikes against Iran without prior notification or authorization from Congress is a dangerous overreach of executive power. By bypassing Congress, this administration has not only ignored the law but has also sidelined the American people in a decision that puts the lives of our service members at immediate risk.

“Iran is a terrorist nation-state and is a threat to democracies worldwide. It is governed by a brutal regime that oppresses its people and is an enemy to the United States. However, the fact remains that America is not willing to entangle ourselves in another forever war.

“This administration’s failure to seek diplomatic resolution, combined with its failure to seek congressional buy-in, is a recipe for catastrophe. Instead of a strategy to prevent Iran’s nuclear proliferation, we are seeing a reckless policy of regime change that threatens to ignite a full-scale war.

“Congress is not a bystander in matters of war and peace; we are a coequal branch of government with the sole constitutional authority to declare war. I am calling for immediate, transparent briefings and will work with my colleagues to assert our Article I oversight. We cannot, and will not, allow this country to be dragged into another unauthorized, forever war.”

Rep. Dave Min (D-Irvine): “While I oppose this brutal and heinous Islamic Republic regime, the ‘how’ and ‘why’ matter when it comes to deploying American troops. Donald Trump has illegally launched us into war without congressional approval in what appears like an attempt to distract us from his many failures and scandals. …

“Trump must immediately present his case for putting our service members in harm’s way to Congress and the American people.’’

Rep. Ami Bera (D-Sacramento): “As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees, I was not briefed by the administration in advance of these strikes on Iran. The administration has not presented a clear case to the American people, and it did not seek authorization from Congress.

“President Trump’s own statement makes clear this is an act of war. The president himself warned that ‘the lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties.’ Any decision that puts the lives of our service members in harm’s way demands the highest level of scrutiny, deliberation, and careful planning.

“The administration must immediately come to Congress to brief members on its legal rationale, objectives, and exit strategy.

“We must also remain clear-eyed about the brutality of the Iranian regime, which has killed thousands of its own people in recent weeks. I continue to stand with the Iranian people as they seek freedom from this oppressive regime and the ability to determine their own future. But any regime-change efforts initiated by the United States will require rebuilding institutions and sustained support. This cannot be done overnight. We must learn from past failures to avoid another open-ended entanglement in the Middle East.

“Next week, the House will vote on a War Powers Resolution on Iran. I will support that resolution.

“I am praying for the safety of our service members and for the protection of all innocent civilians.”

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Santa Clara): “The American people are tired of regime-change wars that cost us billions of dollars and risk our lives. Every member of Congress must go on the record today on how they will vote [on the War Powers Resolution].”

Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii): “This morning, Americans woke to the news that our nation launched large-scale military strikes on Iran. In starting this conflict, President Trump neither sought authorization from Congress nor presented the American people with evidence of an imminent threat that would justify bypassing it. The Constitution is clear: the power to take this nation to war does not rest with one person alone.

“Instead, we are left with the president’s own acknowledgement that our service members may die in this conflict as he calls for regime change in Iran. There is no question that the brutal Iranian regime has sponsored terrorism against our country and brutally repressed its own people. But every American, especially those with loved ones serving in our military, must ask whether this president has sufficiently justified sending our troops into battle and whether he has laid out a strategy and plan that will guide this conflict toward a defined and achievable end.

“President Trump has failed on both fronts. He has not demonstrated an imminent threat to justify this conflict, nor has he laid out how and when this conflict will end. The human toll abroad and the economic pain at home should never be the price Americans pay for one man’s war. We deserve better than this.”

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Ha-waii): “The president’s unilateral decision to strike Iran for purposes of regime change is a clear violation of the Constitution, which gives Congress, not the president, the sole power to declare war. What’s more, this president has not articulated a clear strategy for what comes next. I fear that he is recklessly putting the lives of our service members and personnel in the region at risk.

“Today, my thoughts are with American service members and personnel and their loved ones, as we work to ensure their safety and avoid a broader conflict.

“With President Trump dragging our country toward yet another endless war in the Middle East, it’s critical that Congress immediately votes on Sen. [Tim] Kaine’s War Powers Resolution to reassert our constitutional authority and prevent further escalation.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.): “Donald Trump cannot stop breaking his promises to the American people. By illegally striking Iran, Trump made a choice — one he did not have to make — that puts American lives and national security at risk while threatening to draw us into yet another expensive, taxpayer-funded forever war without congressional approval.

“He owes it to the American people he promised he would always put first to immediately come before Congress and attempt to justify how this illegal war will serve their interests. In the meantime, the Senate must immediately vote on Sen. Kaine’s War Powers Resolution to block this illegal military campaign.”

Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.): “Americans don’t want to go to war with Iran. By launching strikes, President Trump has made the same dangerous and foolish decision President [George W.] Bush did a generation ago. He put Americans in harm’s way without clearly showing there’s an imminent threat to our national security. He put the Iranian people in harm’s way by calling on them to rise up without a broad coalition of partners to assist in their protection.

“And Trump once again started a cycle of violence that has already escalated and could spiral out of control. This is unacceptable.

“The Senate should vote on Sen. Kaine’s War Powers Resolution immediately. I stand ready to do so today.”