Support the War Powers Resolution to Stop Unchecked Power

From U.S. missile strikes killing civilians at sea to growing military escalation around Venezuela, we must act now.

U.S. forces have carried out multiple lethal strikes on vessels near Venezuela, including a September 2 strike that killed 11 people and, according to credible reporting, a follow-up attack that killed survivors of the first strike. Legal experts warn that targeting shipwrecked survivors violates both U.S. and international law. These operations are not only morally horrifying — they set a dangerous precedent: a president waging war unilaterally, without congressional oversight.

We call on Congress to pass a strong War Powers Resolution that forbids any further military action against Venezuela without explicit congressional authorization. Rep. Jim McGovern has already introduced legislation to do exactly that, including a binding directive requiring the withdrawal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela under the War Powers Resolution.

Since September, U.S. strikes off Venezuela’s coast have reportedly killed dozens of people, even as third-party experts warn the victims were not proven “combatants.” International law scholars, former Justice Department officials, and UN human rights authorities describe these killings as potentially extrajudicial executions. The risks of mission creep are real: today it’s boats at sea; tomorrow it could be air strikes over Venezuelan airspace, covert operations, or even land incursions.

Congress has the power — and the constitutional duty — to stop this. The War Powers Resolution offers a clear path to restrain the executive, protect civilian lives, and ensure that any decision involving war receives full democratic accountability.

Will you stand for constitutional democracy, human rights, and peace? Add your name now.