Today, Senators Tim Kaine (VA), Adam Schiff (CA), and Rand Paul (KY) introduced a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to prevent President Donald Trump from launching unauthorized military strikes on Venezuela.
The new resolution comes as the Trump administration continued its lawless killings in the Caribbean Sea this week while escalating tensions and threatening war with Venezuela.
New U.S. Strikes in the Caribbean Sea
The U.S. military carried out two new strikes this week on vessels in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, killing six people on Tuesday. Another U.S. strike on Thursday reportedly left survivors, but details about the aftermath remain unclear.
These killings are murder. As Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02) put it, “No one made Trump judge, jury & executioner.” President Trump is abusing military force in flagrant violation of U.S. and international law to carry out summary executions of people merely suspected of committing crimes.
Escalating Tensions With Venezuela
This week, President Trump confirmed that he has authorized covert CIA actions inside Venezuela against the government of President Nicolás Maduro and threatened direct U.S. military strikes.
According to the New York Times, the new authority would allow the CIA to carry out “lethal operations” inside Venezuela – an escalation that would be reckless, illegal, and immoral.
The Times also reported that “the U.S. military is drawing up options” for strikes, leading Sen. Kaine to raise concerns that “there’s some chance” an attack could be “imminent.”
Congress Must Push Back
Congress must act to stop Trump’s illegal killings and to prevent a needless and devastating war with Venezuela.
While we were disappointed that a War Powers Resolution to stop Trump’s strikes in the Caribbean Sea narrowly failed to pass in the Senate last week, the vote showed strong and bipartisan support that we can build on.
During the first Trump administration, our persistent advocacy helped spur Congress to pass two historic War Powers Resolutions on Yemen and Iran.
Now, we must continue to raise our voices to ensure Congress steps up again and exerts its constitutional authority to rein in Trump’s dangerous and unchecked militarism.
Elsewhere
After Hostages Return Home, Gaza Ceasefire Enters Tenuous Next Phase
On Monday, October 13, Hamas released the 20 remaining Israeli hostages and Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This was the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. Now aid is beginning to flow into Gaza, although more is needed for rebuilding and healing to truly begin. What happens now as the ceasefire enters the next phase remains uncertain. We need to work and pray for accountability to ensure an enduring end to the violence and genocide.
Federal Shutdown Continues as Trump Grasps at Power
The Trump administration is using the ongoing federal shutdown to try to take over Congress’ power of the purse. The administration has made illegal maneuvers to pay military paychecks and food assistance without congressional approval. This is pitting vulnerable people against our democracy: spending power is at the core of Congressional authority and our democratic process.
Potential for Truth and Healing for Native Wounds
We are hearing good news about possible legislative movement in the Senate on a truth and healing commission for Native boarding schools.
- Why it’s needed: For over a century, Christian churches collaborated with the federal government to create hundreds of boarding schools which sought to forcibly assimilate Native children by stripping them of their Indigenous identities, beliefs, and languages. Abuse was rampant, and many children never came home.
- What this bill does: In solidarity with Native communities, we are calling on Congress to support this commission to formally examine this history and make recommendations to Congress to address the enduring harms.
- How you can help: Urge your senators to cosponsor and pass S. 761 — The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act!
Learn about Racial Justice within Quaker Communities
FCNL’s Lauren Brownlee and Zenaida Peterson of Quaker Voluntary Service wrote Patterns of Racial Wounding and Racial Justice in Quaker Communities, a new Pendle Hill Pamphlet. They address harmful patterns of behavior in Quaker communities and how we can shift these practices to support racial justice.
