The Oregon Progressive Party sent this letter to Senators Wyden and Merkley asking they support two amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act.

Dear Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley:

The Oregon Progressive Party supports the two amendments passed by the House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act which restrict the Trump administration’s ability to initiate a war with Iran without Congressional approval and withdraws US support of the Saudi led coalition military attacks on Yemen. We call upon each of you to support and push for these amendments in the Senate version of the bill.

The amendment introduced by Representatives Khanna and Gaetz is a necessary step toward Congress reasserting its Constitutional duty to reign in Presidential power as the only branch of government authorized to declare war. Congress should also move to end the economic blockades in place against Iran which themselves are acts of war.

As stated by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, “You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.”

The Oregon Progressive Party opposes any military action against Iran and supports the United States rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The amendment introduced by Representative Khanna to end Unites States support for the military attacks against Yemen is a moral imperative. The money currently budgeted for the military support should be immediately redirected for humanitarian aid for the Yemeni people who have been living through the brutal nightmare. All military sales to Saudi Arabia must be stopped.

As noted in Newsweek on June 25, 2019, “The Unites States military produces more greenhouse gas emissions than up to 140 countries.” The immediate withdrawal of the military from Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and preventing a new war in Iran is a modest start toward the changes we owe to our children and grandchildren.
It is long passed time to stop draining the money needed to begin the rebuilding of our infrastructure at home, providing healthcare to all and providing education to all, including tuition free college.

Respectfully,

Oregon Progressive Party