Sullivan blocked Iran war-powers vote; Murkowski sat it out

The Senate rejected a motion to force a vote on withdrawing U.S. troops from unauthorized hostilities against Iran, 47-49, on July 23. Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan voted to keep the measure bottled up. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was absent, the first time she did not vote on one of these measures.

The vote was on a motion to discharge S.J.Res. 180 from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The resolution would have invoked section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to direct the president to remove forces from hostilities against Iran not authorized by Congress.

Alaska hosts military installations whose personnel can be assigned to Middle East operations. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson sits near Anchorage; Eielson Air Force Base is outside Fairbanks.

Comparable motions failed 47-53 on March 1, 47-48 on June 16, and 47-50 on June 24. Murkowski voted yea and Sullivan voted nay each time.

Trump has said hostilities "have terminated." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell argued "the president has the authority to use military force with or without congressional approval." The resolution remains in committee heading into the fall session.