•      "I respect the weight of the decisions before the president and the responsibility he carries to protect the American people. However, I believe we must be careful with the language we use. Strength and destruction are not the same. The words we choose matter, not just here at home, but around the world. When the United States echoes the rhetoric of its adversaries, we risk weakening the values that have long defined our leadership. America has always stood for something higher, especially restraint and moral clarity, and that’s what the world expects from us. Let me be clear: the Iranian regime cannot be allowed ot continue supporting terrorist proxies that threaten American lives and our allies. We will stand firm in our commitment to security and stability. But strength requires strategy. It requires clarity of purpose and a defined path forward. That’s why I continue to ask the administration for answers about our objectives, our long-term goals and, most importantly, a clear exit strategy. So far, those answers have not been sufficient. And because of that, I intend to support a war powers resolution when it comes before the House again. Not as a rebuke, but as a reaffirmation of Congress’ constitutional role and our shared responsibility to the American people." Source: Rep. Henry Cuellar (Democrat, Texas, District 28), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security

•      "For decades, the regime in Iran has oppressed its own people and funded terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah that have destabilized the Middle East and threatened our allies. The world is safer without leadership that fuels violence and repression. At the same time, the Constitution is clear. Congress carries the solemn responsibility to declare war. The President must present a clear strategy and defined objectives to the American people through Congress before the United States is drawn further into another conflict in the region. We cannot repeat the mistakes of past Middle East interventions by placing American service members in harm’s way without a coherent plan and a defined end state. That is why I voted in support of the War Powers resolution that was brought to the floor today. As events continue to unfold, my focus remains on the safety of our troops and their families, and on protecting American interests at home and abroad." Source: Rep. Adam Gray (Democrat, California, District 13)

•      "The president has not provided sufficient clarity for why this action was necessary at this exact moment. But servicemembers are actively engaged in hostilities, our allies are under attack and the Iranian regime is more desperate than ever to reassert its power. While I do not believe that an abrupt about-face is a good course of action given the reality on the ground, that should not be construed as my approval. While conflict requires that we remain flexible to shifting circumstances, at this time I would not support Congressional authorization or funding for sustained combat operations. The president has so far acted within the authorities given to him by Congress through the War Powers Act of 1973. He has been briefing Congress, and he has 60 days to make his case for ongoing operations. This is not an illegal war — but it could become one. There are reasonable constraints Congress should impose. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing the Resolution I have introduced with Congressman Gottheimer, which would cut the president’s authorized timeline for military action to 30 days and prohibit the deployment of ground troops outside the context of search-and-rescue or intelligence gathering." Source: Rep. Jared F. Golden (Democrat, Maine, District 2), Member of the House Armed Services Committee