1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The United States has launched major military operations against Iran. The president has publicly described “major combat operations,” acknowledged that American casualties may occur, and urged regime change. That is war. Under Article I of the Constitution, the power to declare war belongs to Congress — not to the president acting alone. Reports now indicate that civilian casualties may be severe. Iranian state media claim that more than 100 children were killed in a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, allegedly adjacent to a Revolutionary Guards facility. While some details remain under independent verification, Reuters and other outlets have authenticated video from the site. If confirmed, this would represent one of the deadliest civilian incidents of the conflict so far. Even in war, there are rules. The law of armed conflict requires distinction, proportionality, and precautions to protect civilians. Congress has an obligation not only to authorize war — but to oversee how it is conducted. If the United States has entered sustained hostilities, then the constitutional process must be followed. The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires consultation with Congress and limits unauthorized engagements to 60 days. Reports indicate Congress received little meaningful notice before strikes began. That is not authorization. The administration has not publicly demonstrated an imminent threat requiring unilateral executive action. Nor has it provided Congress and the American people with a full legal accounting of the basis for this war. History teaches that once escalation begins, it is difficult to contain. Civilian deaths harden conflicts, undermine legitimacy, and deepen instability. If children have been killed in U.S.-backed strikes, the American people deserve transparency, investigation, and accountability. This is not about defending a foreign regime. It is about defending constitutional order and the rule of law at home — and ensuring that American military power is used lawfully and with clear authorization. You must: • Return to Washington immediately. • Demand a full classified and public legal justification. • Require a clear accounting of civilian casualties and targeting procedures. • Vote under the War Powers Resolution. • Withhold authorization if constitutional standards are not met. War is the gravest action a government can take. It must not be launched casually, nor conducted without oversight. If Congress does not assert its authority now, it signals that presidents may initiate war without meaningful deliberation, and that civilian consequences may unfold without accountability. Reclaim your authority. Uphold your oath. Defend the Constitution — and the lives affected by your decisions.