I’m grateful for the recent actions of our three Vermont legislators, calling for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Sen. Welch introduced a resolution in April to challenge the famine in Gaza, which Sen. Sanders’ joined, in addition to 44 other senators. Rep. Balint introduced a bill in June along with 120 other representatives
In matters of war, there are congressional resolutions known as ‘privileged.’ Three in the Senate and one in the House have the distinctive power of not being filibustered, can be introduced by any member of Congress and any member can bring it to the floor and force a vote. Such a vote serves as a way to hold our legislators accountable. One of these three is a war powers resolution, which declares that only Congress can declare war, not the president.
I call on each of my legislators to introduce a Gaza War Powers Resolution in their chamber. Such an action would provide more weight to their convictions and hopefully gather wider support than that to this date. As demonstrated by Bernie’s vote on July 30 this year, the call continues to grow for ending U.S. participation in Israel’s war on Gaza: 27 senators voted to end certain munitions sales to Israel in July. The previous count on April’s vote was 15, which was a large increase over the three senators who voted ‘yay’ late last year.
We are lucky to have such stellar people representing us in Washington, D.C. I urge them to keep pushing for relief in Gaza and for adherence to the Constitution.
MaryDiane Baker
Brattleboro, Vermont