[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3035-S3036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  IRAN

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today, I rise in opposition to Donald 
Trump's illegal war in Iran.
  I come to ask a simple question: What has this war gotten us?
  Here is what we do know: It has tragically cost the lives of 13 
servicemembers. It has caused hundreds of others to be injured. It has 
cost taxpayers tens upon tens of billions of dollars. It has cost the 
average American more than $250 more at the pump on average. It has 
cost farmers nearly 50 percent more on fertilizer.
  This war has been a disaster, and the American people agree. When the 
war began, it was the most unpopular war in U.S. history and has only 
gotten more unpopular as it has gone on. The President clearly gets 
that, so he has released a 2\1/2\-page bullet-point memorandum of 
understanding that he claims will be the panacea to end the war.
  Look, ending the war is absolutely a good thing, but with this 
alleged deal, there are a few major catches.
  For starters, this flimsy memorandum of understanding agreement has 
not and will not actually end the war.
  This is a plan to make a plan later. And what the Trump 
administration is learning in real time is that a final deal--like the 
Obama-era deal--on Iran takes hard work.
  Secondly, this short-term deal has been broken already.
  Lastly, if it were to be followed to a tee, it would be an 
embarrassing fold to the Iranians and a loser for the American people.
  We would green-light $300 billion to go to this hard-line Iranian 
regime. We would lift sanctions on this regime and let it freely sell 
oil, allowing them to make billions more.
  We would show that Iran can control the Strait of Hormuz and our 
global

[[Page S3036]]

economy whenever it wants. And what do we get? Not much--no freedom for 
the Iranian people who were protesting a brutal regime mere months ago; 
no end to Iran's nuclear capabilities.
  So I, again, ask: What has this war of choice gotten us? This war has 
been bad for the American people, and now this off-ramp is bad for the 
American people.
  Congress had the opportunity to end this war months ago, and we 
should have done just that to avoid this exact scenario.
  My Republican colleagues refused, but that does not mean it is too 
late. It is clear as day that we cannot trust this President to be left 
to his own devices. We need to use the power we have to end this war 
and head down the path of real diplomacy. Let's take it.
  I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this concurrent resolution.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Armstrong). The Senator from Connecticut.
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I believe there is an order that we recess 
at 12:30, and I ask I be allowed to finish my remarks before we recess.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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