U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks in the Senate regarding S.J.Res.98, known as the Kaine War Powers Resolution concerning Venezuela. His comments were entered into the record ahead of a roll call vote on whether to discharge the resolution from the Foreign Relations Committee.
McConnell addressed the intent and limitations of the War Powers Act, which has been law for over 50 years. He stated, “The War Powers Act is not the law I would have written, and there are reasonable questions about its constitutionality. But it’s been the law now for over 50 years. And it’s important to remember what it was designed to prevent… and, even more importantly, what it wasn’t.”
He explained that in 1973, Congress sought to prevent another Vietnam by imposing restrictions on large-scale deployments of U.S. troops abroad while still granting presidents authority for limited military action. McConnell said, “The law grants presidents clear authority for the limited use of military force… I can’t recall a single one in which Congress managed to change the facts and artificially constrain the Commander-in-Chief’s authority.”
Regarding recent actions in Venezuela, McConnell asserted that President Biden acted within his legal powers: “The President was well within this authority in his decision to bring Nicolas Maduro to justice.” He cited statutory requirements being met and referenced similar precedents under past administrations.
McConnell added, “You don’t have to agree with a president’s approach to national security policy to acknowledge his compliance with the law and his constitutional authority for the use of force… Which makes the invocation of the War Powers Act such a tired and blunt instrument.”
He criticized repeated attempts by Congress to limit presidential military powers through resolutions like S.J.Res.98: “For my part, I’ve consistently opposed resolutions like these aimed at constraining presidents’ constitutional authority. And I’ve done it on behalf of presidents of both parties.”
Turning attention toward Venezuela’s leadership and regional stability, McConnell described Nicolás Maduro as an authoritarian who has harmed both Venezuela and American interests: “Maduro is an authoritarian thug. He reduced a once-prosperous neighbor of America to an impoverished vassal of Cuba, Russia, Iran, and China.”
While expressing support for efforts toward democratic transition in Venezuela, he also called for clarity on long-term strategy: “If they want to know more about the President’s longer-term strategy to stabilize Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere, so do I!”
McConnell concluded by urging bipartisan support for foreign policy goals but reiterated his opposition to S.J.Res.98: “In the meantime, I will oppose the Kaine resolution, and would urge my colleagues to do the same.”