RELEASE: KHANNA LEADS BIPARTISAN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ON UNAUTHORIZED STRIKES IN YEMEN

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17) led a bipartisan letter with Representatives Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and 22 other members to President Biden expressing concern over unauthorized military strikes against the Houthi Rebels in Yemen.

Read more in The Washington Post here

“While we share your Administration’s concerns about Houthi threats in the Red Sea, we write with serious concern regarding unauthorized U.S. military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen,” wrote the members. 

In the letter, the lawmakers outline Congress’ constitutional authority over matters of war and peace and call on the administration to seek authorization from Congress before conducting more strikes and involving the U.S. in another conflict in the Middle East. 

“Article One of the Constitution is clear: Congress has the sole power to declare war and authorize U.S. military action. The War Powers Resolution (WPR) of 1973 upholds Congress’s constitutional war powers authority: Section 2(c) of this law makes clear that the President can only introduce U.S. forces into hostilities 1) after a declaration of war by Congress, 2) after a specific statutory authorization from Congress, or 3) in a national emergency when the U.S. is under imminent attack. We are not convinced that the circumstances of the U.S.’s strikes in Yemen meet the “national emergency” criteria outlined in Section 2(c), and we believe there was ample time to come to Congress for authorization before initiating these strikes,” the lawmakers continued.

The letter: 

• Outlines the legal necessity for congressional authorization prior to such military action
• Asks the Administration to provide their reasoning for action without congressional authorization
• Asks the Administration to gain congressional approval prior to future action

“As representatives of the American people, Congress must engage in robust debate before American servicemembers are put in harm’s way and before more U.S. taxpayer dollars are spent on yet another war in the Middle East. No President, regardless of political party, has the constitutional authority to bypass Congress on matters of war,” the lawmakers concluded.

The letter was signed by Representatives Andy Biggs (AZ-05); Jamaal Bowman (NY-16); Cori Bush (MO-01); Greg Casar (TX-35); Warren Davidson (OH-08);  Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04); Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14); Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Harriet Hageman (WY), Val Hoyle (OR-04); Jonathan Jackson (IL-01); Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); Ro Khanna (CA-17); Barbara Lee (CA-12), Summer Lee (PA-12); Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13); Nancy Mace (SC-01); Thomas Massie (KY-04); Jim McGovern (MA-02); Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14); Ilhan Omar (MN-5); Ayanna Pressley (MA-07); Delia Ramirez (IL-03); Rashida Tlaib (MI-12); Nydia Velazquez (NY-07).

The letter has been endorsed by the following organizations- Action Corps, Activate Labs, Afghans For A Better Tomorrow, American Friends Service Committee, American Muslim Empowerment Network, Antiwar.com, Avaaz, Center for International Policy, Common Defense, Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, Civic Ark, Common Defense, Defending Rights & Dissent, Defense Priorities Initiative, Demand Progress, Freedom Forward, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Hindus for Human Rights, Historians for Peace and Democracy, Institute for Policy Studies’ New Internationalism Project, Just Foreign Policy, MADRE, MPower Change Action Fund, National Iranian American Council Action, National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Project South, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, RootsAction.org, Secure Justice, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Justice Team, STAND: the student-led movement to end mass atrocities, The Libertarian Institute, The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society, Veterans for Peace, Win Without War, Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, Yemeni Alliance Committee

Read the full text here.

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Congressman Khanna represents the 17th District of California, which covers communities in Silicon Valley. Visit his website at khanna.house.gov. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RepRoKhanna.