Alabama Lawmakers Split Over War Powers Act
The death toll of Americans in the ongoing military conflict with Iran now stands at seven according to a War Department update today. Those deaths are serving to harden the opinions of members of congress both pro and con to the Middle East activity.
With debate on the "War Powers Act' looming in congress, the stances by members of the Alabama Congressional delegation are predictable. Democrats oppose the operations while Republican continue to voice support.
Alabama Senators
Today, Alabama Senior Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville updated his initial statement made Saturday morning. "Thanks to President Trump, the American -hating Ayatollah, FORMER leader of the largest state sponsor of terrorism, is DEAD." he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Strength is back at the White House."
Also posting on X, Junior Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt noted that the porous border policy of the Biden Administration is now allowing Iran's terror proxy groups pose a serious threat to the homeland at a time that the Department of Homeland Security is partially shutdown. "It is critical that we fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. We must work together to ensure DHS has the resources it needs to keep our citizens safe and our homeland secure."
Britt went on to point-out that DHS is far more than ICE and Border Patrol, whose action in Minneapolis led to Democrats refusing to fund all of DHS. Other agencies within DHS play critical roles in defending against cyberattacks, potential retaliatory terrorism and disinformation campaigns.
Republican House Members
West Alabama GOP Congressman Robert Aderholt is a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. In an X post he called the death of Iran's brutal leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a "...measure of justice" for the deaths of countless innocent people, including many Americans.
Sentiments similar to Aderholt's were voiced by the other Republican members of the Alabama Congressional Delegation.
The Democrat House Member's View
The response has been totally different from the state's two Democrat congress members.
West Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell recognized that Iran has oppressed their people and been a major instigator for terrorism worldwide for decades, but she joined Democrat House leadership in criticizing Trump for not seeking congressional approval for the military action."
Southeast Alabama Democrat Congressman Shomari Figures called using the U.S. Military to prompt regime change an act of war. "Congress and only Congress - has the authority to declare war under the constitution." (NOTE: The White House does not call "Operation Epic Fury" a war but Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has."
War Powers Vote
Although only Congress can declare war, a law dating back to 1973 allows the president to launch a limited military intervention in response to an emergency situation created by an attack on the United States.
Republican congressman Thomas Massie is a regular critic of Trump. He has joined Democrats in demanding a War Powers Act vote. "The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war," Massie wrote on X.
In the upper chamber, Democrat Senator Tim Kaine is demanding a vote to shut the military operation down.
Heated debate is expected as congress returns from break.
More From Tuscaloosa Thread
