{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-mcgovern-massie-introduce-bipartisan-war-powers-resolution-to-block-trump-administrations-escalating-hostilities-toward-venezuela", "Castro, McGovern, Massie Introduce Bipartisan War Powers Resolution to Block Trump Administration's Escalating Hostilities Toward Venezuela", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY), have introduced a War Powers Resolution to block the Trump administration from engaging in hostilities within or against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.\n\nThe introduction of the resolution follows President Trump\u2019s recent social media declaration that the airspace \u201cabove and surrounding Venezuela\u201d should be treated as \u201cclosed in its entirety.\u201d Administration officials hve not publicly detailed any formal policy or legal basis for such a step, which many legal experts say could be interpreted as a hostile act under international law. The sponsors of the resolution say this escalation\u2014including the significant augmentation of U.S. armed forces assets, personnel, and operations in proximity to Venezuela and statements from U.S. officials regarding planning for ground strikes within Venezuela\u2014shows why Congress must urgently reassert its constitutional role.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has undermined our alliances in the Western Hemisphere, openly interfered in elections, conducted illegal strikes on boats in the Caribbean, and threatened foreign military intervention. He has put our country at the brink of a war with Venezuela without a debate or vote in the Congress,\u201d said Congressman Castro. \u201cThis resolution will ensure that every member of the House is on the record about sending service members to a war that Americans do not want.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonald Trump claimed he would put America first\u2014instead he\u2019s trying to drag us into an illegal war in Venezuela,\u201d said Congressman McGovern. \u201cWhatever this is about, it has nothing to do with stopping drugs. Trump just pardoned the former President of Honduras who was convicted of sending cocaine to the U.S. And last year he pardoned a guy who brought fentanyl in from China via the dark web. To me, this appears to be all about creating a pretext for regime change. And I believe Congress has a duty to step in and assert our constitutional authority. No more illegal boat strikes, and no unauthorized war in Venezuela.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Constitution does not permit the executive branch to unilaterally commit an act of war against a sovereign nation that hasn\u2019t attacked the United States,\u201d said Congressman Massie. \u201cCongress has the sole power to declare war against Venezuela. Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.\u201d\n\nThe Trump administration has not requested authorization for use of military force against Venezuela, and still has not provided a credible justification for the unauthorized military strikes it has carried out on vessels in the region, actions that have resulted in the extrajudicial killing of dozens of people. Nor has the administration shown why these boats could not have been interdicted and investigated, or why the individuals on board could not have been brought to justice rather than targeted and killed without due process.\n\nIntroduced pursuant to the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the measure is privileged and should receive consideration in the House.McGovern, Massie and Castro stressed that their goal is to force a debate and a vote before any further escalation.\n\nAdditional cosponsors include Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-mcgovern-massie-introduce-bipartisan-war-powers-resolution-to-block-trump-administrations-escalating-hostilities-toward-venezuela"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8158408347517252, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}