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The Senate last Tuesday voted 50–48 to approve a War Powers Resolution directing the removal of U.S. armed forces from hostilities involving Iran, marking a closely divided and politically significant vote on the scope of presidential military authority.

The measure drew bipartisan support from four senators (Cassidy (R-LA), Collins (R-ME), Murkowski (R-AK), and Paul (R-KY)), who joined nearly all Democrats in backing the resolution. The only Democrat opposing the measure was Sen. Fetterman (D-PA). Two Republican absences also factored into the narrow outcome.

The House had previously passed the same resolution in early June by a vote of 215–208, setting up the final Senate action this week.

Despite clearing both chambers, the resolution is non-binding. Because it was structured as a concurrent resolution, it does not require the president’s signature and carries no direct legal force. Instead, it is widely viewed as a political statement reflecting congressional sentiment on U.S. involvement in hostilities related to Iran.

In a separate action, the Senate rejected procedural advancement of an alternative War Powers resolution introduced by Sen. Kaine (D-VA). That proposal was drafted as a joint resolution, which would have been sent to the president if approved by both chambers and therefore carried potential legal effect. In that vote, only Sens. Collins and Murkowski joined Democrats in support, falling short of the threshold needed to advance.

Taken together, the competing votes underscore ongoing divisions in Congress over war powers authority, the limits of executive military action, and the appropriate legislative mechanism for directing U.S. foreign engagements.