After the missile strike, the situation in Syria is volatile and we in PDA believe it is time for cool heads to step up and be counted. Any additional military response would only make things go from bad to worse. Additionally, Congress should invoke the War Powers Act immediately to deter other extra-Constitutional use of military force.

We supported Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), and CPC Peace & Security Taskforce Chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) calling for restraint. We join their demands that Trump to hold off on any military response, and that any use of force by the United States must be authorized by Congress.

According to the CPC statement, "[A]ny U.S. military action against Syria must seek prior Congressional authorization, which is required by the Constitution and War Powers Resolution [and] we call on President Trump to immediately reverse his policy of denying protections to Syrian refugees fleeing violence."

The CPC statement added, “As the Administration’s Syria policy continues to evolve, we urge the President to ignore the discredited voices in his party, including his new National Security Advisor John Bolton, who always view the use of military might as the first and best option for solving the world’s problems.”

Unfortunately, Trump ignored the warnings. We join the Friends Committee on National Legislation urging that—instead of more violence—the Congress and the Trump administration should do the following:

1) The U.S. should fully support the ongoing investigation of the chemical weapon attacks by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and work with the international community to bring the perpetrators to justice.

2) Congress should take back its constitutional authority to decide if, when, and for how long the U.S. goes to war. Congress should demand that the administration seek an Authorization for the Use of Military Force before pursuing any military action. We urge members of Congress to vote against any further military action in Syria.

3) The Trump administration should immediately meet with Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the Gulf States to revive international negotiations that will lead to a diplomatic solution.

4) The U.S. should promptly increase resettlement of Syrian refugees in the U.S. and send more humanitarian aid to the region. Years of direct U.S. military intervention, support of extremist armed groups, and weapons shipments to anti-government rebels in Syria have only added fuel to the fire and put Syrian civilians in greater danger.

Please use this quick and simple action alert to contact your congress people, and share it widely.