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Dear Friends,
More than two weeks ago, the President of the United States called for the complete annihilation of the Iranian people — threatening an ‘entire civilization.’ He may have delayed his threats in the face of public outrage, but the clock is still ticking. Thirteen servicemembers have already died, and he still refuses to come before Congress as he is bound to do by the Constitution. President Trump needs to end this illegal and costly war for good. Democrats put forward a war powers resolution to withdraw our Armed Forces from Iran. Unfortunately, not enough Republicans joined us, and the resolution failed to pass by one vote. I will keep fighting to end this war to protect our troops and bring down the high gas prices we are seeing across the nation.
Watch Rep. Larson's video on the war powers resolution
Responsibility begins at the top. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has shown a pattern of behavior and leadership beneath the dignity of this office – as has President Trump. With the war in Iran threatening the lives of our troops and the safety and security of the American people, it’s never been more urgent to have a leader at the Pentagon the American people can trust to carry out their duties and abide by the Constitution. Secretary Hegseth has not only put our troops in danger by leaking classified information, but he has also abused his position to target the President’s political opponents and order our Armed Forces to strike boats in the Caribbean and attack Iran without Congressional authorization. He must be held accountable for these actions he has taken and carried out. That is why I joined my colleagues to introduce articles of impeachment against him. Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump must be held accountable for their reckless violations of the United States Constitution and international law.
In February, the Supreme Court overturned Trump’s illegal tariffs that raised costs for households across Connecticut and the rest of the nation. According to the Yale Budget Lab, the average household saw their costs rise by $1,700. Immediately after the Supreme Court issued their decision, I cosponsored the RELIEF Act to require automatic refunds to our small businesses. While Customs and Border Protection opened a tariff refund portal this week, there is no clear path to ensure the businesses and consumers who bore the brunt of the costs receive the refunds they’re owed. The President even went on CNBC to chastise Americans who apply for refunds – claiming that they “hate our country.” Nothing could be more American than calling out an illegal tax! This week, I questioned the President’s top trade official, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, on his outrageous claims, and joined my colleague, Rep. Steven Horsford, to press the CEOs of our nation’s largest retailers – to make sure they pass along the refunds they receive to their customers, rather than pad their bottom line and raise their costs even further.
Before she was removed from her position, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem illegal ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians living in the United States – trying to rip apart families in our communities and deport people fleeing violence. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments about the cancellations later this month, but our constituents cannot afford for us to wait for a court decision. For the fourth time this Congress, Democrats forced a House vote through a bipartisan discharge petition effort. I was glad to see the small handful of our Republican colleagues who joined us on this important vote and urge the Senate to act before our Haitian neighbors are put in danger once again by this administration. Ahead of next week’s oral arguments, I also with my colleagues at the Supreme Court, urging the justices to support Haitian and Syrian TPS recipients.
To follow what I’m working on both in Washington and in Connecticut, visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or follow me on Instagram.
Regards,
John B. Larson
Member of Congress |