The conversation with veterans was moderated by VoteVets Senior Advisor Max Rose, an Afghanistan veteran and former member of Congress, and livestreamed on YouTube by Meidas.

The senators’ actions today follow the demand they issued to Republican Leader Thune one week ago to ensure the relevant Senate committees of jurisdiction hold immediate public hearings on the Trump-Vance Administration’s ongoing unconstitutional war in Iran.

“The veterans and military families I heard from today underscored the horrible stakes of war and why I am using every lever of power I can in the Senate to hold this administration accountable and stop its war of choice," said Senator Cory Booker. “At a time when Americans are struggling with rising costs of housing, health care, and basic necessities, they do not want our country to be dragged into a reckless and costly conflict abroad that has no clear strategy or objective and has not been debated or authorized by Congress. The Senate must start doing its job and exercise its constitutional duty to check an out of control administration.”

“Our military members, veterans, and their families understand the cost of war,” said Senator Tim Kaine. “Tonight, I was grateful to spend time with veterans in the Capitol to amplify their concerns—which Americans across the country share—about President Trump’s unnecessary and dangerous war with Iran. Rather than listen to those concerns and vote to end this deeply unpopular war, too many of my colleagues chose to bend the knee to a President who has called our fallen heroes ‘suckers’ and ‘losers.’ This isn’t over. We are going to keep the pressure on until our servicemembers and the American people get the accountability and transparency they deserve.”

“We need to remember who is actually going to bear the cost of this war. It's not the Mar-a-Lago crowd that's going to be hurt by the gas prices that are already going through the roof,” said Senator Chris Murphy. “Billionaires’ kids won’t be fighting this war and coming back with serious injuries. It's the kids of poor and middle-class families in this country who are already struggling to keep their economic head above water. They couldn't imagine a president who would choose to layer purposefully higher gas prices on top of the higher prices they were already paying for his tariffs. It just goes to show this is a president who doesn't think one single day about the impact of his decision making on regular folks.”

“Today, we are in a war that the public has not backed, that Congress has not approved, and for which the president has not made the case. But Congress does not exist to merely implement the president’s will in war or peace. It does not exist to serve as his echo chamber or to dutifully stand and applaud. After weeks of war, billions spent, and 13 killed and more than 200  wounded, it is still not too late to discharge our constitutional responsibility. And the American people and our veterans have a right to expect us to do it,” said Senator Adam Schiff.

“Donald Trump is breaking laws and breaking his promises to the American people. Instead of an affordable country at peace, costs are up and we are careening into another open-ended war,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “I was honored to join our nation’s veterans, servicemembers, and military families today to talk about the real cost of war and who pays it. These folks who sacrificed so much, and the American people, need some answers to why we are in this war, how we are getting out, and why President Trump is focused on it instead of addressing the high cost of living. Until we get those public hearings, expect more of these votes and more attention on this war of choice.”

“This was a reckless war of choice conducted with minimal planning and preparation,” said VoteVets Senior Advisor Max Rose. “It was launched without congressional authorization, without a clearly defined objective, without the necessary military buildup and preparation, without an exit strategy, and without an honest case made to the American people. That is exactly how Forever War starts. VoteVets is proud to stand with Senator Booker and his colleagues in fighting for Congress’s constitutional authority over war. We urge Republicans to join us — Veterans are watching, and those who fail to do their job will be held accountable.”

“Veterans, servicemembers and their families know better than anyone the true cost of war—and it is egregious that Republicans in Congress would enable a five-time draft dodger to use our troops as cannon fodder in his illegal wars of choice,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth. “Trump’s unjustified, incoherent war has already cost 13 servicemember lives and burned billions on billions of taxpayer dollars, which is already too high a price to pay for a war that no one wants. Our men and women in uniform will always do their jobs, and they deserve leaders who will do theirs and ensure their sacrifices are justified. Unlike Republicans, we will keep doing our Constitutional duty and using the tools of the Senate to demand public hearings so we can put the Trump Administration under oath and give our troops and the American people the answers they deserve.”

###