A 52‑47 vote was supported by all Democrats and five Republicans.
By Catholics for Catholics
Looking to end any more military actions against Venezuela, the U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to advance a resolution spearheaded by the Democrats, as five Republicans joined them in the effort.
According to The Daily Wire, the U.S. Senate voted 52-47 to move forward S.J. Res. 98, sponsored by Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine. The action would require Congress to approve any further military action against Venezuela.
The Senate’s move is in response to U.S. forces capturing Venezuela’s strongman, Nicolas Maduro. The former President of that country is now in a U.S. federal prison awaiting a trial for drug-trafficking and other charges.
Every Democrat voted for the bill. GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri supported the measure to check Trump in.
Paul, a co-sponsor of the resolution, and Murkowski have supported previous attempts to stop President Donald Trump. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also backed the measure despite previously signaling he might oppose it.
The measure instructs “the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. Congress makes the following findings: (1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution. (2) Congress has not declared war upon Venezuela or any person or organization within or operating from Venezuela, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for use of military force within or against Venezuela. (3) The use of military force by the United States Armed Forces within or against Venezuela constitutes the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities within the meaning of section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution.”
US Senate passes Venezuela war powers resolution 52-47
— Boi Agent One (@boiagentone) January 8, 2026
Resolution 🅱️locks further Trump military action in Venezuela absent congressional approval
5 Republicans joined Democrats to secure narrow advancement
Measure addresses US military involvement after raid capturing Maduro pic.twitter.com/YnHpk99Eom
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated, “The Senate advanced @SenTimKaine and my bipartisan war powers resolution, which would block the Trump administration’s use of the U.S. armed forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. Today we send a powerful message to the Trump administration: no more endless wars.”
But Markwayne Mullin, the GOP senator of Oklahoma countered, “wrong move. @POTUS drove a successful law enforcement operation to capture a U.S.-indicted drug trafficker who targets and kills American citizens. He was 100% within his Article II authority. Joe Biden put a $25 million bounty on Nicolas Maduro–Trump put him in jail.”
The Wire reported that if the House of Representatives approves the bill, President Trump will veto it. Overriding the bill would require a 2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate, which is unlikely to happen.
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