Maine senators Susan Collins, Angus King split on war powers resolution vote

AUGUSTA, Maine (WMTW) - The United States Senate has voted against a resolution to withdraw American troops from Iran as military operations continue.

The joint resolution would have directed the removal of U.S. Armed Forces that had not been approved by Congress from Iran.

Maine’s senators were split on their vote. Sen. Angus King, an independent, voted in favor of the resolution while Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, voted against the measure.

“What bothers me about where we are, and the reason I voted yes today, is that going to war is the most solemn step that any country can make,” King said in a video message. “The framers of our Constitution knew that. They explicitly, and I mean in so many words, said that Congress are the people to declare war, not the president.”

King was one of 47 senators to vote in favor of removing troops from Iran.

King’s interview was imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Meanwhile, Collins said passing the resolution would send the wrong message to Iran and U.S. troops. She also said providing support to service members right now is critically important.

“We cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. The Iranian regime’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorist proxies pose serious and longstanding threats to the national security of the United States and our allies,” Collins said in a statement. ”Iran has enormous stockpiles of missiles and one-way attack drones and the industrial capacity to continue to expand its arsenal. If the Iranian regime were allowed to continue developing ballistic missiles, it would soon be able to shield its nuclear facilities by threatening a grave and immediate response to any attack.

“Iran is also the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism,” Collins added. ”It has spent nearly half a century attacking Americans directly and through terrorist proxies, beginning with the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran that resulted in 66 Americans being held hostage for 444 days and continuing with the numerous devastating attacks against American service members and civilians in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and more. In the October 7, 2023, massacre, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people, including 46 Americans, in what was the deadliest single day for the Jewish community since the Holocaust. The list of the Iranian regime’s crimes against America and our allies goes on and on.

“The Constitution gives Congress an essential role in matters of war and peace. Sustained combat operations require full engagement with Congress. The Administration has adhered to the provisions of the War Powers Act that require notification to Congress within 48 hours of hostilities commencing, and it has provided numerous classified briefings to Congress,” Collins said.

Both senators participated in classified briefings this week.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched strike operations against Iran early Saturday morning.