Republicans in Congress gave repeatedly blocked Democrats’ attempts to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to order military actions without congressional approval. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans sidelined a resolution Tuesday that sought to prevent President Donald Trump from attacking Cuba without congressional approval, preventing a floor vote on the latest push by Democrats to challenge Trump’s authority to take the U.S. to war.
The 51-47 vote to kill the measure followed a series of failed efforts to halt the war against Iran and came amid concerns from Democrats that Trump will engage troops in another military operation without input from Congress after attacking Tehran, carrying out a raid in Venezuela and striking vessels in the Caribbean.
“Some may think this isn’t a necessary concern, but to quote the president of the United States, our commander in chief: ‘Cuba’s next,’ ” said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., a co-sponsor of the resolution. “This is urgent and it requires immediate attention by the United States Senate.”
Republican Susan Collins, of Maine, notably joined Rand Paul of Kentucky, a vocal proponent of congressional war powers, in siding with Democrats on the vote. Sen. John Fetterman, of Pennsylvania, voted with Republicans to dismiss the resolution.
For months, Democrats said, the U.S. has effectively engaged in hostilities with Cuba by imposing an oil blockade that has created a worsening humanitarian crisis.
“If another country was doing this to the United States and causing the cancellation of medical procedures, especially for kids, the blackouts, the shutting down of municipal water supplies and other significant challenges, we would consider it a hostility and even an act of war,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
Trump has not specified his plans for Cuba but has floated regime change for the communist country, saying, “it may be a friendly takeover, it may not be a friendly takeover, it wouldn’t matter because they’re really, they’re down to, as I say, fumes.”
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., argued Tuesday that Trump has never suggested putting troops on the ground in Cuba, making the resolution introduced by Democrats a “complete waste of time.” He forced the vote that ultimately tabled the measure.
“The only reason I can think a Democrat would propose this is for fundraising showing how they are fighting President Trump tooth and nail,” he said, adding that Trump is “doing everything he can to make bring back freedom and democracy all across Latin America and we should do everything we can to support him.”
The White House has said Trump’s military operations abroad are well within his authority to act in defense of the nation.
The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war but it has not done so since World War II as presidents have increasingly taken unilateral military action or sought formal authorizations for the use of military force from Congress.
Trump faces a 60-day deadline on May 1 to seek such an authorization for the war in Iran, though he can seek a 30-day extension for national security reasons.
