This is urgent. On Wednesday, April 22, 2020, President Trump tweeted, “I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.” Provoking a war in the middle of a pandemic?!?! Immediate action must be taken to impose constitutional restraints on Trump’s inclinations to endanger the Middle East and the entire world. The assassination of General Qassim Soleimani—a man who had a popularity rating in Iran of over 80% because of his successful fight against ISIS — and the launch of U.S. airstrikes in Iraq before that brought us to the brink of war at the start of 2020. Now with Trump threatening Iran on Twitter as a way to distract from his gross negligence in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, we are heading to that brink again. Poll after poll in the U.S. states clearly that the American people do not want to be dragged into another war in the Middle East. On February 13, the Senate passed an Iran War Powers resolution to prohibit Trump from using military action against Iran without congressional approval with bipartisan support and a vote of 55-45. On March 11, a companion bill passed in the House. However, you have dragged your feet at getting the bill to the necessary next stage. As president pro tempore, this is your job. As a person who is deeply worried about the possibility of a war with Iran — in the middle of a pandemic — I am calling on you to do your job. Move the Iran War Powers Resolution to President Trump’s desk already.

I am writing to you to ask you, as your constituent, to ask you to stop Trump from going to war with Iran. A war with Iran that would likely be worse than the disastrous U.S. war with Iraq was. You must act now by VOTING YES on Rep. Khanna’s bill, H.R.5543, to prohibit funding for the U.S. to carry out military actions against Iran without prior congressional authorization as well as Barbara Lee’s bill to repeal the 2002 AUMF when they come to a vote on Thursday, January 30, 2020. The assassination of General Qassim Soleimani—a man who had a popularity rating in Iran of over 80% because of his successful fight against ISIS- and U.S. airstrikes in Iraq before that have brought us to the brink of war. Thousands of additional US troops have been deployed to the Middle East and the U.S. is insisting on remaining in Iraq despite a clear message from the Iraqi people that they want us to leave. Poll after poll in the U.S. states clearly that the American people do not want to be dragged into another war in the Middle East. The blame for the present crisis rests squarely on the doorstep of the White House. The Trump administration’s reckless decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and revert to the U.S. policy of threats and sanctions is backfiring—as predicted. As your constituent, I am asking you to vote yes on H.R.5543 to prohibit funding for the U.S. to carry out military actions against Iran without prior congressional authorization as well as Barbara Lee’s bill to repeal the 2002 AUMF. Sincerely,

I am writing to you to ask you, as your constituent, to ask you to stop Trump from going to war with Iran. A war with Iran that would likely be worse than the disastrous U.S. war with Iraq was. You must act now by VOTING YES on Rep. Khanna’s bill, H.R.5543, to prohibit funding for the U.S. to carry out military actions against Iran without prior congressional authorization as well as Barbara Lee’s bill to repeal the 2002 AUMF when they come to a vote on Thursday, January 30, 2020. The assassination of General Qassim Soleimani—a man who had a popularity rating in Iran of over 80% because of his successful fight against ISIS- and U.S. airstrikes in Iraq before that have brought us to the brink of war. Thousands of additional US troops have been deployed to the Middle East and the U.S. is insisting on remaining in Iraq despite a clear message from the Iraqi people that they want us to leave. Poll after poll in the U.S. states clearly that the American people do not want to be dragged into another war in the Middle East. The blame for the present crisis rests squarely on the doorstep of the White House. The Trump administration’s reckless decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and revert to the U.S. policy of threats and sanctions is backfiring—as predicted. As your constituent, I am asking you to vote yes on H.R.5543 to prohibit funding for the U.S. to carry out military actions against Iran without prior congressional authorization as well as Barbara Lee’s bill to repeal the 2002 AUMF. Sincerely,