[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 79 (Monday, May 11, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                                  IRAN

  Mr. SCHUMER. On Iran, Donald Trump and members of his administration 
have referred to the fighting in Iran as a ``skirmish,'' a ``mini-
war'', a ``little excursion,'' a ``blip'' and most recently ``a love 
tap.'' Let's call the ongoing hostilities with Iran for what they are--
a war.
  Let me repeat: Donald Trump dragged America into a war--an illegal, 
costly war--without any goals, without any endgame.
  It has been over a week since we hit the 60-day threshold under the 
War Powers Act, which means the hostilities must cease unless Trump 
gets authorization from Congress.
  Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth tried to skirt the deadline when they 
told us the timer had stopped because the fighting was over.
  Tell that to the American servicemembers who were dodging Iranian 
drones and missiles in the Strait of Hormuz last week.
  Tell that to the American people who just saw headlines the other day 
about Trump saying we are getting ready for a protracted blockade.
  The war is over? Bunk, poppycock, craziness to even say it, but Trump 
says anything that enters his head which he thinks will please him in 
the moment--even if he gets himself in trouble by the end of the day.
  And to this war, there is still no end in sight. Just today, the most 
recent round of negotiations with Iran fell apart. Trump keeps digging 
himself into a deeper and deeper hole.
  Meanwhile, Americans are now paying over $4.50 for a gallon of gas. 
Families need real relief at the pump, and Senate Democrats will 
support real action to lower costs, but let's not pretend $0.18 of gas 
tax relief per gallon makes up for the damage Trump created with this 
war. Mr. President, $0.18 cents isn't $1.50, which is how much the 
price of gas has gone up since this war started.
  Trump wants credit for handing the American people a glass of water 
to put out the fire he started--the massive fire he started--when he 
launched this war.
  Americans don't need just a few cents back--they need an end to the 
chaos that sent gas prices soaring in the first place.
  The best way to lower costs is to end this illegal war. Trump could 
end this war tomorrow and prices would plummet by far more than $0.18 a 
gallon.
  And Republicans know that this blunder didn't magically end when the 
60-day clock ran out. It is time to do something about it, so Democrats 
are forcing a seventh vote on our War Powers Resolution this week to 
withdraw United States troops from hostilities with Iran.
  If Republicans care about preserving our War Powers, keeping our 
servicemembers safe, lowering Americans' costs, they need to support 
the War Powers Resolution and end this war.
  If Republicans vote against our resolution, they will continue to 
bear the blame for Trump's war. Not a skirmish, not a blip, not an 
excursion--it is a war.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The minority whip.

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