Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick was one of four Republicans who crossed party lines Wednesday to vote in favor of a war powers resolution designed to limit the president’s military actions.
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Fitzpatrick joined fellow Republican Reps. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky; Tom Barrett, of Michigan; and Warren Davidson of Ohio in the 215-208 vote.
The resolution is based on Congress’ legal authority to restrict the executive branch’s military operations.
A similar measure failed last month, and the current resolution faces hurdles in the U.S. Senate, which has lacked the votes for passage in past efforts.
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Fitzpatrick introduced his own version of the War Powers Act, but that legislation did not advance on its own.
“We must keep the world safe, and we must also follow the law,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement posted to his taxpayer-funded website. “The War Powers Act of 1973 states that any conflict exceeding 60 days must be brought to Congress. Today was the second War Powers Resolution that was brought to the House Floor following the expiration of this 60-day clock. The law, as it is currently written, requires that the matter now be brought to Congress. That is why I voted in favor of today’s resolution. We must follow the law.”
Credit: DOD
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The United States and Israel entered into war with Iran on Feb. 28 following months of escalating tensions.
While the conflict has slowed and blocked the flow of oil and goods in the region, which is blamed for driving up inflation and causing gas prices to soar, President Donald Trump and his administration have touted ongoing peace talks.
Trump has stated that the conflict is paused while the negotiations take place. There have been numerous reports of a deal, but no deal has moved forward.
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The president criticized the House vote on his Truth Social platform Thursday morning.
“Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote.
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The vote follows recent remarks by Trump about Fitzpatrick to Fox News Channel White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, who is engaged to marry the congressman.
According to audio captured by a White House pool reporter, Trump mistakenly referred to the couple as already married.
“Her husband votes against me all the time. Can you imagine? I don’t know what’s with him. You better ask him what’s with him,” Trump said. “Her husband – she’s married to a certain congressman – he likes voting against Trump.”
The president added, “You know what happens with that? Doesn’t work out well. I don’t know why he does.”