The Senate accepted the Iran resolution passed by the House as a symbolic rebuke of Trump

Washington – The Senate on Tuesday approved a House-passed resolution aimed at strengthening President Trump on Iran, marking the first time the measure has reached both chambers and marking a rare rebuke of the president’s handling of the conflict.

In a 50 to 48 vote, four Republicans — Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky — joined dozens of Senate Democrats in supporting the measure. One of the Democratic Alliance, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, opposed. Two Republicans – Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick – did not vote.

The resolution directs the president to “withdraw United States Forces from the war against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of military force. The measure is a concurrent resolution, meaning it does not require the president’s signature. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 states that the president must withdraw military forces “if Congress so directs by a unanimous resolution.”

But Tuesday’s decision will likely be more symbolic, as the administration says US forces are not currently engaging with Iran. Some administration officials have also said they consider the War Powers Resolution itself unconstitutional.

Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee who introduced the measure, said he plans to “examine all legislative options to ensure that the Executive complies with the will of Congress.”

“Regardless of what President Trump says, this action is binding under the War Powers Resolution,” he said in a statement after the Senate’s passage. “Congress has never authorized this failed war, and the president has no authority to continue it indefinitely without our consent as required by the Constitution.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Republicans to join Democrats in supporting the measure ahead of a vote Tuesday morning, previewing an effort to “re-put Republicans on the record as to whether they want a bad war on Trump.”

“Republicans can complain about Trump’s war, his secrecy and his bad deal with Iran all they want behind closed doors,” the New York Democrat said. “But the only way to make sure this war ends once and for all is for Republicans to act.”

Where the House he accepted the measure on June 3, four Republicans and all Democrats voted, after three previous failed attempts to impeach Mr. Trump in Iran. The measure’s passage also came after GOP leaders abruptly withdrew the vote before Memorial Day when it became clear they didn’t have the votes to block it.

Republicans Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan and Warren Davidson of Ohio voted with the Democrats as they passed. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who voted against the the previous three attempts failedhe also withdrew his opposition and voted for this measure, which made his party agree on this issue for the first time.

In the Senate, Tuesday’s vote marked the 10th time Senate Democrats have forced a vote on war powers since the war began in late February, putting pressure on the GOP as support for the war has soared. In the eighth attempt, the Senate improve the decision led by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia to limit Mr. Trump in Iran by a vote of 50 to 47. The same four Republicans who supported Tuesday’s resolution simultaneously voted to advance Kaine’s war power measure last month, while the absence of three GOP members favored Democrats.

Kaine’s measure must go through more votes in the Senate before it heads to the House. The timing of the next vote is unclear, but Schumer said last week that Democrats are trying to elect more Republicans before moving forward. Tuesday’s result could be the impetus Democrats need to force their next vote on Kaine’s measure, a joint resolution, which would require the president’s signature.

I final battle power vote in the Senate with a resolution from Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia failed to advance due to three absences among Democrats.