May 07, 2020

Manchin Votes To Override Presidential Veto On Bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on his vote to override President Trump’s veto of S.J.Res 68, the bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution, which requires the President to receive direct authorization or declaration from Congress for the use of military force against Iran, which the Senate passed on February 13th, 2020. The Senate did not meet the threshold to override the Presidential veto in a 49-44 vote.

“In February, the Senate approved S.J.Res 68, the Iran War Powers Resolution, to ensure the President must work with Congress and receive authorization in order to engage in hostilities against Iran. I voted to approve the resolution because the authority to use military force is the responsibility of Congress, not one individual. I take that responsibility very seriously. Today I voted to override President Trump’s veto of the resolution because as the Senator who represents West Virginia and serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I know the toll two decades of war has had on our great nation. While the veto override did not pass in the Senate, we must continue to work with our allies to achieve peace in the Middle East. When it comes to the security of our nation, we cannot be partisan Democrats or Republicans, we must come together as Americans.”