DURHAM, NC (March 2, 2026) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s escalating military strikes against Iran and the growing regional conflict:
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a brutal and repressive regime that suppresses democratic movements, violently cracks down on protestors, and denies women and marginalized communities their fundamental rights. However, these abuses do not give the President the authority to launch military strikes without Congressional approval. By bypassing the people’s elected representatives, this administration is violating the Constitution and risking another open-ended war with no clear objectives and no exit strategy.
“This escalation has already claimed the lives of hundreds of Iranians, cost American lives and placed more servicemembers at immediate risk as the conflict spreads across the region. Iranian retaliation against U.S. forces and regional infrastructure is creating a broader crisis that threatens displacement, civilian suffering, and long-term instability across the Middle East, repeating the costly mistakes of past regime-change wars that destroyed communities, destabilized entire regions, and left generations to bear the consequences.
“As a cosponsor of the bipartisan War Powers Resolution, I am working to end U.S. involvement in unauthorized hostilities and restore Congress’s role in decisions about war and peace. I have supported every procedural effort to bring this resolution to the House floor, and I will vote to pass it this week. Congress must act now to prevent further escalation, protect our servicemembers, and stop the United States from being drawn deeper into prolonged and unnecessary conflicts.”