ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A bipartisan effort to invoke the War Powers Act and end U.S. military action in Iran failed by a single vote Wednesday, but the measure marked a notable reversal for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who broke with her party \u2014 and her own past votes \u2014 to support it.<\/p>\n
The measure failed 49-50 on Wednesday, with Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) voting against, splitting Alaska\u2019s Senate delegation.<\/p>\n
Murkowski was joined by fellow Republican senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in voting to halt U.S. military action under the War Powers Act of 1973. <\/p>\n
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) was the sole person who did not vote.<\/p>\n
The 1973 law requires Congress to declare war or authorize the use of force in an overseas conflict within 60 days \u2014 or 90 days if the president requests an extension. Neither has happened.<\/p>\n
It was at least the seventh time Democratic leadership has brought a war powers measure to the floor since U.S. military operations in Iran began in March. In each previous vote, Murkowski sided with Republicans against the resolution.<\/p>\n
In a statement released Wednesday, she said she reversed course<\/a> because the conflict has reached the 60-day limit and the Trump administration has asserted that hostilities have ended, \u201cdespite the blockade and continued fire directed at members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as our assets, allies, and partners.\u201d<\/p>\n Murkowski added that if fighting resumes, the Trump administration would be obligated to seek authorization from Congress.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil then, I will support measures to officially end hostilities and bring our men and women home. I will oppose any effort to redefine \u2018hostilities\u2019 in ways that allow the president to wage war indefinitely without seeking congressional approval as outlined by the Constitution,\u201d Murkowski said.<\/p>\n In a statement, Sullivan\u2019s office defended his vote against the resolution, saying the senator has consistently supported giving presidents of both parties broad authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. national security interests and American service members.<\/p>\n The office also cited Iran\u2019s decades-long hostility toward the United States and argued that past administrations have sought to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n Sullivan\u2019s office characterized Wednesday\u2019s vote as the seventh war powers resolution considered by the Senate and said the measure would send the wrong message by signaling a withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle East.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should be supporting our troop\u2019s mission, not undermining them,\u201d Sullivan\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the case<\/a> for pausing the clock during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 1, arguing that a ceasefire suspends the 60-day deadline. <\/p>\n \u201cWe are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses, or stops,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n