1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support legislation that would prevent the use of military force in Venezuela and to rescind the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force to ensure it cannot be misapplied to justify military action against so-called narcoterrorists in Venezuela or elsewhere. The military strikes on Venezuela that occurred on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, targeted Venezuelan military installations and civilian infrastructure and reportedly involved the capture of President Maduro. Multiple nations including Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay condemned these strikes as violations of Article 2 of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of sovereign states. Germany's legal experts confirmed that international law prohibits the use of force as national policy except in response to armed attack or to rescue populations under imminent threat of extermination, neither of which applied in Venezuela. The 2001 AUMF was passed to address the September 11th attacks and has been stretched far beyond its original intent. It must not be reinterpreted to justify military intervention in Venezuela under the pretext of combating narcoterrorism. Brazil called the bombings "an unacceptable line" that sets a dangerous precedent where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism. Norway's Foreign Minister warned of a return to pre-1940 doctrines where "the law of force rules, not international law." Congress must reassert its constitutional authority over war powers. I urge you to cosponsor and vote for legislation that explicitly prohibits military operations in Venezuela without congressional authorization and to support efforts to rescind the 2001 AUMF to prevent its misuse. The European Union, Canada, and Spain have all emphasized that while they support democratic transition in Venezuela, any solution must respect international law and UN Charter principles. Dialogue and negotiation through the United Nations and regional organizations are the legitimate means of resolving international differences. Please act now to prevent further escalation and protect both international law and congressional war powers.