[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  IRAN

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, yesterday an Ipsos poll found that fewer 
than one in four Americans think Trump's war in Iran has been 
worthwhile. And who can blame them? Every metric indicates that Donald 
Trump's handling of Operation Epic Fury has been an epic failure.
  Donald Trump promised this war would be won in a matter of days or 
weeks. It is now day 47. And let's take stock of the 47 days into this 
historic blunder. Thirteen U.S. servicemembers have been killed. 
Thousands of civilians have been killed and injured across the region. 
The Strait of Hormuz is not only closed, it has become an Iranian cash 
cow. And Iran's control of the strait is greater today than before when 
Trump started the war.
  Iran's nuclear ambitions have only grown, and the Iranian regime is 
even more radical than before the war. Americans, meanwhile, are 
shelling out more than $4 for a gallon of gas, on average.
  Now Donald Trump says that gas prices ``could be the same'' or ``a 
little higher'' by November. Those are his words. Trump says gas prices 
``could be the same'' or ``a little higher'' by November. Unbelievable.
  Trump's No. 1 promise entering the White House was to bring inflation 
down, and now he is admitting his own war could drive gas prices up for 
much of the rest of the year. When Donald Trump admits his own war will 
drive gas prices up through November, you know there is trouble coming 
down the road for American motorists.
  Donald Trump is learning the hard way that ending a war is a lot 
harder than beginning one. He would rather pick a fight with the Pope 
online than reckon with what is truly on the line right now: the lives 
of American servicemembers and the livelihood of American working 
families.
  And throughout all this miasma, all this mess, this horrible war, 
where are the Senate Republicans? Months into this war, still no 
hearings, no testimony, no clarity on how it will end. Don't the 
Republicans, when we are in war, don't they know their responsibility? 
I don't care if they are the same party. Don't they know they have a 
responsibility to get the facts out and let the American people know 
what is going on here? Because Trump isn't giving people any idea, but 
he still keeps changing his mind and his goals in the war, none of 
which he has achieved.
  So where are Senate Republicans? The American people have a right to 
ask. Enough is enough. Trump may not understand how damaging his war 
has been to the American people. Republicans may be hiding from having 
hearings or asking questions, but Senate Democrats who know how 
damaging the war has been are asking a whole lot of questions.
  That is why we will force a vote on another War Powers Resolution. 
This is the fourth since the war began. I thank Senator Tammy Duckworth 
for her work on this week's resolution. I thank Senators Kaine and 
Booker and other Members of our caucus for their continuing leadership 
on this crucial issue.
  Republicans have voted against this resolution three times now. But 
as the war drags on for 47 days with no end in sight, they should join 
us on this resolution and end the war once and for all--and all the 
troubles it is bringing to Americans once and for all. It is 47 days 
already, where are you?
  If the Republicans vote no again, we will continue to force votes on 
these resolutions every week until either this war ends or the 
Republicans get the courage to stand up to Donald Trump.

                          ____________________