Murkowski Joins Colleagues to Bring War Powers Resolution to Senate Floor
Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after her vote on Senate Joint Resolution 98:
“Today, my colleagues and I voted to bring a resolution to the Senate floor requiring congressional approval for further military operations against Venezuela. This will allow the senate to begin debate on this measure following President Trump’s statements yesterday suggesting that the United States could remain in Venezuela for years, while failing to rule out the deployment of American troops on the ground. Such outcomes clearly require congressional authorization.
“I want to acknowledge and commend the remarkable bravery, technical mastery, and operational precision demonstrated by the U.S. servicemembers and intelligence professionals involved in the January 3 mission to remove Maduro. This operation exemplifies the level of coordination and advanced capability that only U.S. military power can deliver. Nicolás Maduro is a dictator who led a brutally oppressive regime, and Venezuela—along with the world—is better off without him in power.
“However, there remains deep uncertainty surrounding the path forward for Venezuela’s political transition, the implications for regional stability, and whether the United States has a clear and achievable end goal. I have long been an advocate for the relevance of Congress in its constitutional role over the use of military force, and Venezuela is no different. Any future use of force or significant policy shift in Venezuela must include robust congressional oversight and authorization, consistent with our constitutional responsibilities, the rule of law, and a clear assessment of the benefits to the American people.”
