Steube Denounces Amendment Limiting President Trump’s Authority to Protect America and Her Allies
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Greg Steube (R-Fla.) released the following statement after the introduction of an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prohibit the use of federal funds for military force against Iran. Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) sponsored the amendment.
“It is sad that some of my colleagues seek to undermine the president’s authority with an amendment that protects the Ayatollah instead of our nation’s security interests. I lost brothers and sisters in arms during my service in Operation Iraqi Freedom thanks to Iranian improvised explosive devices, and we cannot sit by as these state sponsors of terror try to acquire nuclear weapons. A nuclear Iran is a threat to America, our allies around the globe, the entire Middle East, and our friends in Israel.
Nobody wants war with Iran, but a distinction between war and protecting American interests in the region must be made. The president should be able to take timely and decisive action to protect our country and its servicemembers and this amendment subverts the president’s executive authority to do so. The president is the Commander in Chief, not Congress.
This reckless amendment goes against American interests by tying President Trump’s hands from being able to swiftly act in response to the Iranian regime’s aggression. Supporting this amendment is an affront to the security of our nation’s servicemembers and allies.”
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