1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I am writing to demand immediate congressional action in response to President Trump's unauthorized military strikes on Venezuela. According to US officials speaking to CBS News, Trump ordered strikes on military installations in Caracas, including La Carlota military airfield and Fuerte Tiuna military base, without congressional authorization as required by the Constitution. These strikes represent a dangerous escalation following weeks of military buildup described as the largest in the Americas since the Cold War. Since September 2, the administration has conducted 30 strikes killing 110 people, confiscated sanctioned oil tankers, and now attacked the capital of a sovereign nation. This occurred just days after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stated on Venezuelan state TV that he was open to talks with the US on drug trafficking and oil "wherever and whenever they want." Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress alone the power to declare war. The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces and limits military action to 60 days without congressional authorization. Trump has bypassed these constitutional requirements entirely. Eyewitnesses in Caracas, including journalist Vanessa Silva, reported massive explosions that caused homes to vibrate and left surrounding communities without power. These are acts of war against a nation that posed no imminent threat to the United States. Congress must immediately invoke the War Powers Resolution to terminate this unauthorized military action. I urge you to co-sponsor any resolution demanding withdrawal of US forces, hold emergency hearings on these strikes, and pursue accountability measures including censure or impeachment if the President continues military operations without authorization. The administration's claim that Venezuela is using oil money to fund drug crime does not justify unilateral military aggression. Our Constitution exists precisely to prevent one person from unilaterally launching wars. I expect you to defend congressional war powers and the rule of law by taking immediate action to stop these illegal strikes.