Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a former intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, released the following statement today after the House passed H. Con. Res. 89, a bipartisan war powers resolution directing the President to end hostilities against Iran absent authorization from Congress. The resolution passed 214–208. Goodlander was a cosponsor.

It is the second time in two months the House has voted to rein in the President’s unauthorized war of choice. Goodlander helped lead the first bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution to passage in June. Today’s vote comes on the 145th day of the war, after four more American servicemembers were killed in the last week alone, bringing the total to eighteen.

“From day one of this war, President Trump and his appointees at the Pentagon have failed to answer the most basic and urgent questions that every American deserves answers to: What are the objectives of your war in Iran? What will it cost? How does it end well for the American people?” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Eighteen American patriots have given their lives in a war that Congress never authorized. Four in the last week alone. Every one of them swore an oath to support and defend our Constitution — the same oath I swore when I joined the Navy, and the same oath every Member of this House swore when we took this job. Today, the People’s House honored that oath and spoke with one clear voice: Mr. President, respect our Constitution. End this illegal war. Bring our servicemembers home.”

GOODLANDER LEADERSHIP ON WAR POWERS & OVERSIGHT: 

Since the President launched this war of choice on February 28, Congresswoman Goodlander has used legislation, oversight, and her seat on the House Armed Services Committee to reassert Congress’s constitutional authority over war and to demand accountability from the Trump Administration.

• Championed the first War Powers Resolution as it passed the House. In June, Goodlander helped lead the bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution through the House. The resolution passed 215-208 — the first time in the history of the War Powers Act that both chambers of Congress directed a President to remove U.S. forces from a conflict via a concurrent resolution. She has cosponsored every resolution to force congressional debate and action on the war that the House has voted on.

• Leading the fight for Pentagon accountability. During an April House Armed Services Committee hearing, Goodlander pressed Secretary Hegseth for a simple accounting of the billions of taxpayer dollars already spent on the war — and he could not provide one. Weeks earlier, she demanded a dedicated public hearing on the Iran war so the Department of Defense would answer Congress about the war’s shifting strategy, mounting casualties and costs, and the Administration’s request for an additional $67 billion.

• Fought to cut off funding for an unauthorized war. In May, Goodlander joined fellow veterans and congressional national-security leaders to introduce the No Funds for Iran War Act, legislation prohibiting taxpayer funds from being used for military action against Iran without a declaration of war or specific authorization from Congress.

• Stood up for servicemembers put in harm’s way. After six U.S. servicemembers were killed in Kuwait, Goodlander joined 13 fellow House Democratic veterans in demanding an immediate investigation into force-protection failures and calling for Congress to be kept fully informed.

• Repealed outdated war authorities and strengthened Pentagon oversight. Through the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, Goodlander helped secure the repeal of the outdated 1991 and 2002 Iraq war authorizations and strengthened oversight of Pentagon spending. 

• Delivered a bipartisan win for readiness and taxpayers. During consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 NDAA, she co-led a bipartisan amendment adopted by the House Armed Services Committee to improve military readiness and save taxpayers billions by giving servicemembers greater ability to repair the equipment they depend on.

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