March 30, 2026
Dear Mr Neece,
Thank you for contacting me about the situation in Iran. I am grateful to hear from you as I continue the work of representing our district in Washington.
I am deeply concerned about the unilateral military action by Trump in the Middle East, which has destabilized the region and dragged Americans into a conflict a majority of Americans – from all political backgrounds – did not want. Since President Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during his first term, Iran has accelerated the proliferation of its nuclear stockpile. In late February 2026, Trump further escalated the delicate situation by bombing Iran without congressional approval – resulting in the death of the Ayatollah and of several U.S. servicemembers.
My heart is with our troops and the families of those who have lost their lives in service. The safety of our troops and American civilians must be our top priority. I am also concerned about the tragic civilian casualties in this conflict, including the school girls who lost their lives in the initial attack.
The Ayatollah is a brutal dictator who has sponsored more terror across the globe against Americans and our allies than any other regime, and I stand with the Iranian people and against their government’s cruelty. I support a free Iran away from the dictatorship of the Ayatollah, which is why I supported H.Res.993, which affirmed support for those protesting for a free and democratic political system in Iran. Furthermore, Iran must never be able to attain a nuclear weapon because they are committed to the complete destruction of the US, Israel, and our allies.
However, I am gravely concerned about the United States being entangled in a broader conflict that could endanger innocent civilians, put American servicemembers in harm’s way, and jeopardize our hopes for long-term peace. I strongly oppose Trump’s unilateral decision to attack Iran without consulting Congress. The Constitution is clear: only Congress has the authority to declare war. This unilateral action Trump has taken without constitutional power could lead to another drawn-out and costly war in the Middle East without a long-term plan for peace and stability in the region.
The American people do not want another war, especially as so many are grappling with increased costs of living, skyrocketing healthcare costs, and the ongoing cost – on all of us, and on our economy – from Trump’s tariffs. Trump has neither made a case to the American people of why we should involve ourselves in this conflict nor explained what his long-term plan for peace in the region is. We cannot be embroiled in another prolonged foreign war, especially at the expense of the safety of U.S. servicemembers.
That is why I have cosponsored two War Powers Resolutions to hold him accountable: H.Con. Res. 38, led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, and H.Con. Res. 40, introduced by Reps. Greg Meeks, Jim Himes, and Adam Smith, the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Armed Services Committees. These resolutions reaffirm what we all know: only Congress – not the executive branch – has the constitutional power to declare war.
The U.S. government must instead use every diplomatic and economic tool available, including targeted sanctions to strict limitations on Iran’s ability to develop and deploy weapons of mass destruction, to keep Americans safe. In doing so, we must wind down the current conflict in the Middle East. I will join my colleagues in demanding a detailed, classified briefing on this operation and its long-term strategy, and will continue to support the War Powers Resolution to rein in this unhinged President.
Thank you again for reaching out. I'm here to fight for Colorado families and your message makes a difference. To better stay in touch, please visit my website at pettersen.house.gov or follow me on Twitter and Facebook. I hope to hear more from you soon.
Sincerely,
Brittany Pettersen
Member of Congress
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