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Floor Speech

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Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of the majority of Americans who oppose President Trump's war in Iran. I also rise on behalf of the families who just want him to fulfill his promises to lower costs and end foreign wars. Sadly, that is not what we are getting.

So much of what we have seen over the last 3 weeks reminds me of our war in Iraq. We have the Trump administration claiming that Iran was weeks away from a nuclear weapon, even though last year he said we had obliterated their nuclear program. We have Donald Trump saying that he wants to liberate the Iranian people from a regime, all while Iran has installed an equally as extreme leader. We have civilians, including children, being killed by American bombs. And we have servicemembers dying overseas for a cause that Americans do not understand.

Americans are watching the start of another open-ended military conflict in the Middle East, just the kind President Trump said he would end, not start.

There is one major difference, however, between this war and the Iraq war. This time around, the Trump administration hasn't even bothered to make their case to the American people. Back then, we had an open and public debate about the cost of war, the cost to the American taxpayer, the cost to our military and their families. We voted on it, and Congress held public hearings preceding that vote.

Look, I voted against it, and my fears were sadly proven right. But at least the American people back then had a say in it.

President Trump clearly has no interest in following the law or our Constitution or letting the American people have a say in this war. So far, my Republican colleagues have shown no interest in forcing him to do so.

So we are using the tools at our disposal to try to bring some sunlight and force a debate on this illegal war of choice, because the more people learn about this war, the less they like it, and the quicker we can end it. It is past time for this administration to come before Congress and the American people to explain why we are at war and how they plan to get us out of it.

If my Republican colleagues refuse to join us, I am prepared to keep forcing votes on this war. Congress, the people's branch, is a check and balance on any President, and right now, this President needs a serious check.

Donald Trump is breaking laws, and he is breaking his promises to the American people. The President is showing us what his priorities are: starting wars and not focusing on the everyday needs of hard-working families.

This war is not what the American people signed up for, and it is our job to stop it and get our country back on track. Today, we will show our constituents who is and who isn't on the side of the American people, and I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution.

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