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Happy New Year! We have a lot of important work ahead in 2020 ... to lower drug costs, tackle the climate crisis and raise wages … and improve the lives of all of our Tampa neighbors!
The word on the Hill this week is “de-escalation”. Democrats and Republicans received a classified briefing on Iran yesterday, and the House will debate a War Powers Resolution tomorrow. While Iran’s General Soleimani courted his fate with his decades of malign and violent activity, and I do not mourn his death, his killing was a provocative act that puts America at greater risk. Although the Constitution vests Congress with the sole power to declare war, President Trump took this action without consulting Congress and endangered our servicemembers, diplomats and others through his serious escalation. Since then, it’s become clear that he does not have a coherent strategy to keep the American people safe, achieve de-escalation with Iran and ensure stability in the region. Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about the lack of strategy moving forward. The War Powers Resolution will limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran.The House also may soon consider additional legislation to keep America safe, including a resolution to repeal the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force and legislation to prohibit funding for military action against Iran not authorized by Congress.
Friends, family and all our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico are enduring yet another natural disaster. We must ensure that all necessary resources are made available – with alacrity - to our fellow Americans as they recover and rebuild. I am continuing to closely monitor new developments on the Island and the speed with which resources are brought to help.
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