1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

Congress cannot remain on the sidelines while the nation moves deeper into a potentially catastrophic war with Iran. Global energy markets are already reacting. Oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel and gas prices here have risen sharply in the past week. The humanitarian consequences are alarming with video evidence that it was a U. S. missile that killed more than 160 people, most of them children, at a girls school. If confirmed, this tragedy demands transparency and accountability. The war is also costing American lives. Officials confirmed that at least seven U.S. service members were killed in an Iranian drone strike on a U.S. base in Kuwait. At the same time, the Pentagon reports that thousands of targets have already been struck and that the campaign may expand further. The Constitution grants Congress clear authority over matters of war and military funding..Congress must reclaim its constitutional role and act immediately to: • Demand a full briefing on the objectives, scope, and legal basis of current military operations. • Require transparent reporting on civilian casualties. • Clarify the limits of U.S. military engagement and insist on a clear strategy to prevent escalation. • Exercise its authority over appropriations to ensure continued military action reflects the will of the American people.