The current administration ran on a pledge of no new wars. They lied, and now we’re mired in a war of choice in Iran. We didn’t ask for it, and it has no clear goals. This war costs us billions every month, while jacking up the cost of gasoline, diesel fuel, and fertilizer. We have sent troops, including troops from right here in Kentucky, into extreme danger without purpose, planning, or desired outcomes. The chaos must end, and it will when I get to Washington.
I will work with members of both parties to settle the conflict diplomatically and reassert Congress’s authority over military action. The president should not be able to unilaterally enter open-ended conflicts without Congress, which is why I will join my colleagues in supporting a War Powers Resolution to end funding for the war and bring our troops home.
For more than a quarter century, we’ve been mired in endless wars in the Middle East, spending trillions of dollars, and too often ignoring the need to nation-build right here in the United States. We need to end outdated Authorization of the Use of Military Force, reassert Congress’s role in the deployment of the military into active conflict, and ensure that no president can ever again take action without Congressional authorization and clearly defined outcomes.
Too often, we are eager to send troops into combat and then fail to meet our obligations to care for them when they come home. Let’s fully fund veterans’ health care, reduce delays at the VA, improve rural and mental health access, end veteran homelessness, and truly help those with the scars of war, physical and emotional alike.
Learn more about how I will Keep America Strong, End Reckless Wars, and Honor Those Who Serve.