[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2556-H2557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WAR IN IRAN WITHOUT CONSULTATION

  (Mrs. Watson Coleman of New Jersey was recognized to address the 
House for 5 minutes.)
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the 
sentiments of my constituents in the 12th Congressional District in New 
Jersey. They are furious.
  The President's war in Iran is one of the greatest foreign policy 
blunders in American history. It is a war of choice, and he took this 
action without consulting either Congress or the American people.
  The President's reasoning after the fact has been one lie after 
another. In briefings to Congress, the administration has admitted this 
isn't about regime change and that there was no imminent threat, that 
there was no nuclear threat.
  The administration has gone before the American people and provided 
zero clarification of the objectives, nor have they planned for the 
obvious consequences of this action. There is no clear off-ramp.
  The Strait of Hormuz has been closed, with several cargo ships 
already destroyed, choking the global supply chain. This has led to 
higher oil and gas prices, which President Trump has declared is a good 
thing. In addition, a third of the world's traded fertilizer has been 
blocked from the market, putting agricultural work at risk.

[[Page H2557]]

  The American people were already struggling to pay the bills, thanks 
to Trump's self-declared trade wars. Now, we are forced to deal with 
the economic fallout, the personal fallout, and the loss of lives of 
this self-declared war.
  The American people are paying for this war of choice with a price 
tag of $1 billion a day. The families of the 13 servicemembers who were 
lost are paying for this. Meanwhile, the President stands to profit 
from this war.
  Trump's sons are investing in drone companies with contracts with the 
Pentagon. This is a clear conflict of interest that calls into question 
the President's motives when sending our brave servicemembers into 
harm's way in the first place.
  The President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is gallivanting across the 
Middle East for his private firm while simultaneously serving as one of 
the United States' chief negotiators.
  We have come to expect corrupt self-dealing from this President, the 
most corrupt President in our history, his family, and their cronies. 
However, now American lives are at stake.
  Finally, this week, the President's Secretary of Defense said that we 
will ``keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy.'' The Secretary of Defense 
is committing war crimes at a press conference.
  Declaring that the United States will offer no quarter puts our own 
troops at greater risk. It represents an appalling lack of concern for 
the well-being of our troops, a direct violation of both U.S. and 
international law, and highlights his incompetence and his lack of 
soul.
  Mr. President, if you have the ability to feel shame, you will end 
this war now.
  If my colleagues in this Chamber have a shred of dignity left, they 
will immediately pass a War Powers Resolution and bring an end to this 
disaster before more lives are lost.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Moore of Utah). Members are reminded to 
refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. Members 
are also reminded to address their remarks to the Chair.

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