The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a Senate vote advancing legislation that would force President Trump to seek congressional approval before taking any new military action in Venezuela.
GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri backed the advancement of the measure to check the White House’s power in a 52-47 vote.
SEE: Senate votes to limit Trump on Venezuela – POLITICO
In a statement, CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We commend the Senate for voting to block additional deadly attacks on Venezuela without congressional authorization, and we encourage the House to do the same. The Constitution gives Congress and Congress alone the authority to declare war, and it is long past time for Congress to rein in the power of presidents to start unprovoked wars of choice around the world.”
Yesterday, CAIR called on U.S. Senators to support the legislation.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com