Overview
- In a 52-47 procedural vote, the Senate moved forward a bipartisan resolution to require congressional authorization for any further U.S. military action within or against Venezuela.
- Five Republicans—Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Todd Young, and Josh Hawley—joined all Democrats, with a final Senate vote expected next week.
- The White House opposes the measure and issued a veto threat, defending the Caracas raid as a lawful law-enforcement action to protect U.S. citizens and combat drug cartels.
- Lawmakers acted after the Jan. 3 operation that captured Nicolás Maduro and brought him to New York on narcotics and weapons charges, prompting fresh constitutional questions about presidential war powers.
- House Democrats are drafting additional war-powers and funding restrictions, including potential limits related to countries the president has referenced such as Greenland, Mexico, and Colombia.