House to vote on restraining Trump’s actions against Iran

House will vote Thursday on a measure limiting President Donald Trump's ability to take military action against Iran as Democratic criticism of U.S. killing of a top Iranian general intensified.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., anunced planned vote in a one-p statement that said last week's drone strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani was “provocative and disproportionate."

Democratic war powers resolution seems certain to pass over solid Republican opposition. A similar proposal by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., faces an uphill fight in GOP-run Senate.

Because of a procedural dispute between two parties, it was unclear wher Thursday's vote would be a step toward binding Trump's hands on Iran or a symbolic gesture of opposition by Democrats.

Republicans say proposal — a special of resolution that does t get president's signature — does t have force of law. Democrats say that under 1973 War Powers Act, it would be binding if also approved by Senate. matter has t been definitively decided by federal courts.

House vote was scheduled shortly after a briefing on Iran Wednesday by top ministration officials that many Democrats criticized as lacking specific justification for killing. Iran retaliated early Wednesday local time by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house American troops. casualties were reported.

“Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about ministration’s decision to eng in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward," Pelosi said in her statement.

“Congress hereby directs President to terminate use of United States Armed Forces to eng in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or military" unless Congress declares war on that country or enacts legislation authorizing use of force to prevent an attack on U.S. and its forces, five-p resolution says.

"I think it's extremely important that we as a country, if we are going to -- eir intentionally or accidentally -- slide into war, that we have a debate about it,'' said freshman Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., measure's sponsor. Slotkin is a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official who served in Iraq.

"I want to understand ... what's your strategy?'' she said, referring to Trump ministration. "How do you kw you're succeeding and t just escalating us into something more and more dangerous? We are owed concrete, specific details on strategy.''

showdown between White House and Capitol Hill was latest example of Trump’s willingness to break rms in Washington. Trump did t consult with congressional leers ahe of attack that killed Iranian general and afterward sent Congress a tification explaining rationale, but kept it classified.

Congress has allowed its war powers role to erode since pass of Authorization for Use of Military Force in 2001 to fight terrorism after 9/11 attacks, and pass of ar AUMF for invasion of Iraq in 2002.

Fallout from those votes deeply divided Congress and nation, with many lawmakers, particularly Democrats, w saying y were mistakes. Yet Congress has been paralyzed on question of wher to repeal or change those authorities.

Trump, facing one of greatest tests of his presidency, said Wednesday that Iran appeared to be “standing down” and said U.S. response would be to put in place new ecomic sanctions “until Iran changes its behavior."

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Republicans have largely supported Trump's actions, saying president was well within his power to take out Iran's architect of proxy operations against Americans in Middle East. U.S. considered Soleimani a terrorist.

"How much is eugh? How many more Americans did Soleimani need to kill before somebody supports taking him out?'' asked Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, . 2 Republican in House. world is a safer place without Soleimani in it, he ded.

Democrats were unconvinced that threat posed by Soleimani was imminent or that or alternatives to killing were pursued in good faith. By t disclosing many details of threat, Trump was asking American public to trust very intelligence reports he has often dispard, Democrats said.

Some Republicans also criticized briefing by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and or top officials. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said it was “probably worst briefing I've seen, at least on a military issue," in nine years he's served in Senate.

Lee called it "distressing" that officials suggested it would only embolden Iran if lawmakers debated merits of furr military action. He walked into briefing undecided, Lee said, but left it favoring war powers resolution being offered by Kaine.

"It is t acceptable for officials within executive branch of government ... to come in and tell us that we can't debate and discuss appropriateness of military intervention against Iran," Lee said. "It's un-American, it's unconstitutional, and it's wrong."

Pelosi said House may also consider ditional legislation to repeal 2002 Iraq authorization of force and a separate bill to prohibit funding for military action against Iran t authorized by Congress.