On Sunday, January 5th, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed that the House of Representatives will vote on new legislation to limit President Donald Trump’s power to conduct military operations against Iran. The new legislation arises from the rising tensions between the United States and Iran as a result of a recently fatal airstrike. The airstrike, ordered by President Trump, resulted in the death of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani. 

In a letter sent to the House to announce the new legislation, Pelosi claimed that, “Last week, the Trump Administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate military airstrike targeting high-level Iranian military officials.”

Among Pelosi, many other democrats have responded in a critical manner to President Trump’s decision of the airstrike. Although President Trump publicly expresses his actions as necessary, many other democrats, alongside Pelosi, are critical of his recent decisions. 

Due to the negative responses from his actions, Pelosi has called upon the War Powers Resolution, a law created in the 1970’s that lays out rules for how the President can deploy military when congress has not declared war. Pelosi also stated that the House will vote on a 30-day limit on military action against Iran. She is aiming to implement this new legislation due to the belief that failure to consult Congress in this situation inflicted upon their constitutional war powers that they obtain.  

If the House approves the legislation, it will also be voted on within the Senate. If approved once again, it will move onwards to face a Presidential veto. The legislation will need to win two-thirds of both chambers in order to override it. The office of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has said that it is still unknown which day the vote will take place.