MANCHESTER, N.H. — Members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation are reacting to airstrikes launched by the Trump administration in Iran on Saturday night.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen:
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: “President Trump took action against Iran tonight in what appears to be a limited contained strike. We are still waiting to understand the extent to which that action has deterred Iran’s nuclear threat. The United States must not rush into war with Iran.
“Unfortunately, President Trump has not continued the bipartisan tradition of regularly briefing Congress on major national security events that impact Americans around the world. American service members — with 40,000 U.S. troops in the Middle East alone — our diplomats, their families and our citizens will undoubtedly assume more risk with today’s developments. President Trump must now de-escalate tensions with Iran and immediately brief Congress.”
Sen. Maggie Hassan: “We need more information about the U.S. strikes in Iran, including the intelligence that led to this decision. The priority now is to protect U.S. troops in the Middle East and around the globe, and to avoid a broader conflict or U.S. entanglement. Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. It is Congress’ constitutional role to declare war and authorize the use of military force, and the President should be working with Congress to address national security issues.”
Rep. Maggie Goodlander: “I am closely monitoring the situation in Iran. I have always remained steadfast in my conviction that this Iranian regime can never get a nuclear weapon. But I have a number of basic questions that deserve answers from Donald Trump and his administration. Among them: What was the constitutional justification for doing this without congressional authorization? Why did we abandon diplomacy that could have blocked Iran from a nuclear weapon without the risks and costs to the American people of direct military action? And what is the plan now? The American people deserve answers, and I will seek them.”
Rep. Chris Pappas:
Rep. Chris Pappas: “I am monitoring the situation in Iran closely, and I call on the Trump administration to take immediate steps to protect the safety of our troops and American civilians in the region.
“Iran is a terrorist state that has long fueled violence and destruction around the world, and it cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Diplomacy is essential to prevent Iran from moving further in that direction. It is the role of Congress to consider and approve the deployment of U.S. military power to wage war, not a unilateral decision to be made by the President. The American people and elected leaders in Congress deserve immediate answers about today’s strikes and a clear plan from the Administration about how we protect our national security interests.”
https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-congress-us-iran-airstrikes/65142904
