Use War Powers Resolutions to rein in unauthorized military action and preserve Congress’s sole authority to declare war.

I’ve joined multiple War Powers Resolutions that would rein in this rogue president and ensure that only Congress has the power to declare war.

Pettersen supports War Powers Resolutions to limit unauthorized presidential military action and protect Congress’s war-declaration authority.

Fighting Back Against the Trump Administration | U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen
secondary · other · model gpt-5.5

H.Con.Res.38 was titled: "Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran." The text found that Congress has the sole power to declare war, that Congress had not declared war or specifically authorized hostilities against Iran, and directed the President to terminate U.S. Armed Forces hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized.

The bill text directly matches the promise's War Powers/declare-war substance, but it was only proposed legislation and did not itself end unauthorized military action.

partial same_term

Text - H.Con.Res.38 - 119th Congress (2025-2026)
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 93%

Congress.gov lists H.Con.Res.38 with 78 cosponsors and lists "Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]" as a cosponsor dated 06/24/2025.

Pettersen cosponsored a concrete War Powers Resolution targeting unauthorized Iran hostilities, showing clear effort toward the promise.

partial same_term A for effort

Cosponsors - H.Con.Res.38 - 119th Congress (2025-2026)
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

Congress.gov shows H.Con.Res.38 was introduced June 17, 2025, referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and had the status "Introduced" as of the page record.

The War Powers measure Pettersen cosponsored had not passed the House, Senate, or become law, so the promised restraint of unauthorized military action was not delivered through this bill as of July 1, 2026.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.Con.Res.38 - Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%

The Clerk recorded H.Con.Res.21 as directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from Syria. The vote failed 103-321, and Pettersen voted "Nay."

Before the 2026 cycle, Pettersen voted against one War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. forces from Syria, which cuts against a consistent record of using such resolutions to rein in unauthorized military action.

never unknown

Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Roll Call 136, H. Con. Res. 21
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 94%

The Clerk recorded H.Con.Res.30 as directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces, except embassy protection forces, from Somalia. The vote failed 102-321, and Pettersen voted "Nay."

Pettersen also voted against a War Powers Resolution on Somalia in 2023, another negative data point for the broader promise.

never unknown

Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Roll Call 201, H. Con. Res. 30
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 94%