Senate rejects Iran war powers resolution 50-49

The U.S. Senate on Thursday rejected a measure directing the withdrawal of American forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress declared war or specifically authorized the military action. The 50-49 vote defeated the House-passed resolution, H. Con. Res. 89, leaving it unable to advance. Four Republicans - Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul and Thom Tillis - joined Democrats in supporting the measure. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted against it, and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks did not vote. The resolution fell one vote short of a 50-50 tie; Vice President JD Vance, who presides over the Senate, could have broken a tie if all senators had voted. The measure had passed the House in July. It sought to require the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress declared war or passed a specific authorization. As a concurrent resolution, it was nonbinding and would not have gone to the president for signature or veto. Its defeat ended this measure’s progress, but did not itself authorize the military campaign. The vote came amid congressional debate over the conflict’s duration, cost and consequences.