The Senate will vote on a measure that would block President Trump from using military force against Iran without congressional authorization.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, announced Tuesday he’ll allow a vote on the measure as an amendment to the 2020 Defense Department spending authorization legislation.
The measure is authored by Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico and Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, both Democrats.
Most Republicans oppose it, but McConnell’s Kentucky colleague and fellow Republican Rand Paul is a co-sponsor of the Udall measure, along with Sen. Mike Lee of Utah.
Supporters believe Congress has ceded too much authority over military force and that the 2001 Authorization of the Use of Military Force in Afghanistan is outdated. Congress passed the 2001 authorization in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Udall amendment would prohibit Trump from using any Defense Department money for the use of force in Iran without first receiving congressional authorization.
Trump and most Republicans believe he is authorized to use limited force in response to recent Iranian aggression in the region.
McConnell said Trump and his top advisers are not planning to go to war with Iran.
“We hope to defeat it,” McConnell said. “It is simply not required under this circumstance.”
McConnell added, “I don’t think it’s good for this country to see the Iranians observing us arguing over this.”
