Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In the aftermath of the Trump administration’s military strike against Venezuela, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; Thomas Massie (R-KY); and Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, today reintroduced a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to block further U.S. hostilities within or against Venezuela absent explicit authorization from Congress.

A nearly identical resolution introduced by McGovern, Massie and Castro forced a floor debate on December 17th, 2025 and failed by just two votes, with a final tally of 211-213.

Their reintroduction follows the White House admitting “it’s a war”in Venezuela, claiming that America is going to “run the country,” and refusing to rule out more U.S. troops in the country—alarming signals that America is being dragged toward a dangerous, expensive, and open-ended quagmire without constitutional authority or congressional oversight.

“Donald Trump should be focused on America, not Venezuela,” said Congressman McGovern. “Instead, he is bragging that ‘it’s a war,’ claiming the United States is ‘running the country,’ and leaving the door wide open to more troops and strikes—all without congressional authorization. These reckless actions are unconstitutional and illegal, and Congress has a responsibility to stop this before it spirals into another disastrous and costly quagmire. There’s no question Maduro is a tyrant who stole power—but the Venezuelan people deserve to decide their own future, and the American people deserve a Congress that debates and votes before more troops are put in harm’s way.”

“This is not about drugs; this is about oil and regime change. It’s an insult to the intelligence of Americans to frame it as an arrest by the DOJ. Our troops are not pawns to be risked for the profits of oil companies and investment bankers,” said Congressman Massie.

“The president has dragged the country into an illegal war with Venezuela,” said Congressman Castro. “We know this war is not about protecting democracy or the security of the American people. It's about oil and land. The President has said that he is in charge of Venezuela. Instead of addressing the cost of living for Americans, the President wants to spend billions of dollars rebuilding Venezuela and benefit his oil executive friends. Every House member needs to be on the record about whether they support yet another nation building effort, this time in Venezuela.”

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