Fellow Illinoisan,

Congress, and Congress alone, has the power to decide whether to declare war.

Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution is clear - as it should be.  We should not send our sons and daughters into war without the consent of the people through their elected representatives. Sadly, Congress has abdicated this critical Constitutional role for too long. 

But this week, the Senate finally found its bipartisan voice and asserted its Constitutional authority to decide whether to declare war.   I was proud to join Virginia Senator Tim Kaine in introducing the Iran War Powers Resolution, and am thankful our resolution was able to pass the Senate with bipartisan support.

DURBIN ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE IRAN WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

The Iran War Powers Resolution requires that any hostilities with Iran must be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force from Congress. It does not prevent the United States from defending itself from an imminent attack.

I hope President Trump will sign this resolution without delay. The framers of our Constitution did not intend to give one person the power to declare war.

Sincerely, 

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)