U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is co-sponsoring a War Powers Resolution in response to the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
The Illinois Democrat took to the Senate floor on Monday, urging members of Congress to consider the resolution - which calls for debate and a vote to prevent further escalation of hositilities with Iran.
"On behalf of the American people, let us learn the lessons of history - a lesson bitterly learned during the Vietnam War - that if Congress does nothing, a war can develop and continue at great human cost."
Durbin says U.S. leaders should remember lessons learned during and after the Vietnam War - particularly that Congress has the constitutional responsibility to officially declare war.
"Article One, Section Eight - in just a few words says 'the Congress shall have the power to declare war.' It's not equivocal, there are no footnotes, asterisks, question marks. The Congress shall have the authority to declare war."
Durbin is co-sponsoring the measure with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA).
