By Andrew Horn of Amherst, NH

Text of my email:

Hi Team Goodlander,

Thank you so much for your thorough response on this issue. I appreciate the time it took to put all of this together.

I applaud the Congresswoman for many if not all of her words and actions on this issue. I agree with the Congresswoman that it’s unclear how the administration’s actions make us safer, and these actions were clearly not approved by Congress, which is the normal procedure.

However, I urge the Congresswoman to more explicitly and forcefully emphasize the illegality and unconstitutionality of these acts of war in Venezuela and the Trump Administration’s belief it can and should “run” Venezuela.

Furthermore, in addition to “leading” on the issues and resolutions detailed, I urge the Congresswoman to lead the charge in drawing up articles of impeachment against the president for his blatantly illegal and unconstitutional actions in and around Venezuela.

Finally, I urge the Congresswoman to explicitly denounce the administration for its musings about conquering Greenland and reiterate that Greenland is the sovereign territory of Denmark, as it has been for hundreds of years. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller asserted that the US has the right to take Greenland from Denmark, according to the New York Times. The United States emphatically does not have the right to conquer land from a NATO ally. Were we to conquer Greenland, that would be the end of the post-WWII rules-based world order, and the beginning of a dark new chapter in human history. I urge the Congresswoman to speak truth to power: to denounce the idea of conquering Greenland as illegal, unconstitutional, a threat to world order, a threat to American democracy, a threat to American rule of law, and a thorough and obvious impeachable offense.

Again, I wish to reiterate my gratitude for your email, bringing together all of the Congresswoman’s words and actions on the issue of the administration’s acts of war in Venezuela. I want to also reiterate my gratitude for the Congresswoman’s words and actions. I would much rather have a Democrat such as the Congresswoman representing me in the House than I would even the best Republican.

Many thanks,

Andrew Horn
Amherst, NH

Team Goodlander email I’m responding to:

Dear Andrew,

Thank you for reaching out with your concerns over President Trump’s military strikes in international waters and military actions in Venezuela. Hearing from Granite Staters is very important to the Congresswoman, and she truly appreciates your input on this issue.

Congresswoman Goodlander wanted to make sure we shared her latest statements and her continued efforts to reassert congressional authority:

“Nicolás Maduro was a dictator and a thug, and the bravery and skill of America’s troops are truly extraordinary. But President Trump needs to explain how taking large-scale military strikes without congressional authorization will make the American people safer and what the plan is now.”

“The American people deserve answers.”

“Granite Staters are feeling the pain of a full-blown affordability crisis in America, and President Trump is focused on running another country.”

“President Trump has asserted that the United States will ‘run’ Venezuela in the wake of this action. How will this make the American people safer? How will this address the real pain Granite Staters are feeling because of the sky-high cost of living here at home? And what is the legal justification for such an action?”

“The United States Constitution entrusts the United States Congress with war powers for very good reasons. The Trump Administration must immediately and truthfully answer questions about the motivation and legality of this unilateral military action, the potential for any further escalation, and the plan for peace.”

“Congress has not authorized the use of military force for these operations, and the American people deserve answers before their sons and daughters are put in harm’s way. That’s why I’m leading the charge in Congress to ensure accountability and keep faith in our Constitution.”

The Congresswoman led two war powers resolutions, which the House of Representatives voted on in December:

  • House Concurrent Resolution 64 would require the President to stop all U.S. military combat or attacks against Venezuela unless Congress officially declares war or passes a law specifically allowing the use of force there.

  • House Concurrent Resolution 61 would require the President to stop using the U.S. military to fight alleged drug cartels in the Americas unless Congress specifically gives permission or declares an official war.

On December 19, she also helped introduce the No Unauthorized War with Venezuela Act, H.R. 6915, to prohibit the Executive Branch from spending any federal dollars on the use of military force against Venezuela unless Congress explicitly authorizes it.

Again, thank you for taking the time to add your voice to this important discussion.

Sincerely,

Team Goodlander