[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 39 (Monday, March 2, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S737-S738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of my 
colleague from Virginia Senator Kaine's resolution prohibiting the 
United States from continuing this illegal war in Iran.
  I want to start with the basic premise that I think we can all agree 
on: We are here to represent the people of our States and their 
desires. Wisconsinites have been unequivocal that they do not want 
another foreign war. I agree with them, and for a while, it seemed 
Donald Trump did too. The President promised not to get into more 
foreign wars, but the President broke that promise and has gone all in 
on war with Iran. The consequences are dire. Six American 
servicemembers are now dead. My heart absolutely breaks for their 
parents, their siblings, their children, their spouses, and their 
communities. Thousands of Americans in uniform who are stationed in the 
region are at risk because of the President's reckless and illegal war.
  And what does the President have to say? He says that it is likely 
more Americans are going to die. He said that is just the way it is. He 
said that. The President's callous response shows his disregard for the 
men and women he is supposed to lead.
  Our Constitution is crystal clear: If our country is going to war, 
Congress needs to vote on it.
  In 2002, Congress debated the war in Iraq, and I opposed it. I 
believed the Bush administration dangerously underestimated the 
potential consequences and did not have a clear path forward after the 
initial military operation. I was right. As a result, thousands of 
brave service men and women died, taxpayers paid billions of dollars, 
and we got ourselves into a yearslong war in the Middle East.
  I have the same concerns today. I fully agree that Iran's regime is a 
dangerous and murderous one and can't be allowed to obtain a nuclear 
weapon, but how we deal with them and keep America safe matters. 
Diplomacy--the hard work of peacefully negotiating--is the answer, not 
war. That is exactly why I supported the 2015 deal that kept Iran from 
getting a nuclear weapon, but President Trump ripped that deal up and 
allowed Iran's nuclear program to flourish.
  Wisconsinites see exactly what this President is doing, and they do 
not support it. They want President Trump to live up to his promises 
and to address their kitchen-table issues and concerns, not pull our 
country into another foreign war.

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  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.

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