Tom Udall: “I rise to respond to some of the criticisms of the Udall amendment that I believe are misleading and deserve a response.…”

“I rise to respond to some of the criticisms of the Udall amendment that I believe are misleading and deserve a response. To start, I want to point out an area of agreement. The opposition says our amendment is simple, and it agrees on its intent--that this amendment would prohibit a war with Iran without there being congressional approval, and that is what the vote is about. The arguments from those in the opposition mislead to avoid that simple truth. They are trying to create excuses for why we should ignore the Constitution and open the door to war with Iran without having a vote. President Trump has said he was 10 minutes away from doing just that. Here is some of what we have heard. Critics say we only have one Commander in Chief, not 535, and so we should not pass this amendment. We agree. We only have one Commander in Chief, but the Commander in Chief executes wars. Only Congress can declare them. Our Founders made that decision for good reason. Dictators and Kings declare war unilaterally. Democracies don't. In our democracy, the people decide whether we go to war or whether we don't go to war through their elected representatives. Congress is the most direct voice of the people. Once that decision has been made, then it is up to one Commander in Chief to execute that war. The people of New Mexico did not send me here to be a battalion commander or a general, and I have no intention of acting like one.…”