Today I have heard from constituents who are in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, the U.A.E., and Qatar or have family there and are frantically trying to get to safety.
The State Department told Americans in the Middle East to evacuate, but flights across the region are cancelled, airspaces are closed, and airports and consulates are shuttered or under attack.
The Trump Administration's incompetence is stranding Americans abroad. 1/
The limited guidance we have received is that American citizens should monitor official travel advisories and security updates.
To receive the latest security alerts, American citizens abroad are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at mytravel.state.gov/s/step and join the State Department WhatsApp channel for updates at whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va….
Americans in the Middle East who need to reach Consular Affairs can call 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada).
Constituents needing help communicating with State should call my office at 703-658-5403 for support. You can also fill out our digital privacy release form here, and someone on my staff will be in touch: beyer.house.gov/constituent-se… 3/
The American people rightly do not want a war with Iran.
President Trump’s war is not smart, it is not legal, it is not morally right, and it is not in our national interest.
The risk to our servicemembers, citizens, and allies which it creates is not justified by Iran’s threat to our own security, and the threat of a wider conflict that destabilizes the region is significant.
Recent history has shown repeatedly that wars in the Middle East are far easier to begin than they are to finish. 1/4
The President has not made the case for a conflict he himself calls "war" to the country or to Congress, nor has he gotten congressional approval for such a step, which means this war is plainly illegal and unconstitutional.
The only justifications given for war have been Trump’s failure to conclude a deal like the one he inherited and foolishly tore up, along with the goal of destroying a nuclear program he declared "obliterated" a few months ago.
This does not inspire confidence in the incoherent strategy of an increasingly erratic president. 2/4
The Iranian regime has been brutal and repressive, and the human rights and self-determination of the Iranian people deserve our care and consideration.
But there is no evidence that President Trump cares about the people of Iran any more than he does about the people of Venezuela, or about the people of other countries repressed by the autocrats and dictators Trump counts as friends.
On the other hand, many civilians reportedly have already been killed, and many more are likely to be. 3/4
Over the last year an authoritarian president and his administration unleashed a geyser of political news that also shaped coverage of the economy, global affairs, health, tech, environment, local news, and more. The Post's competitors have been successful in this environment.
At the same time, media companies and other key American institutions responded to Trump’s bullying and intimidation with appeasement. Media outlets tried to protect business interests and wealth of their billionaire owners by weakening or censoring journalism critical of Trump.
The Department of Homeland Security is murdering American citizens. Congress cannot allow that to continue, we must act.
We need a full, independent investigation into these killings. 1/
ICE, CBP and other DHS personnel must leave Minnesota and other cities where they have been sent to sow division and fear. 2/
No more occupation. No more assaults on Americans peacefully exercising their rights. No more masked agents. No more warrantless entries. No more mass arrests to fill deportation quotas. 3/
I will be voting no on the proposed continuing resolution in the U.S. House.
Republican leaders have turned their backs on Americans facing rising health care costs and refuse to address the affordability crisis their own policies created.
My statement:
The Senate’s proposed continuing resolution, which would extend current levels of government funding through January 30 while failing to address the expiration of critical health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that help millions of Americans afford health insurance.
1/
I have said from the beginning that my goal is to end the shutdown in a way that protects Americans from skyrocketing health care costs, and this bill fails that test.
2/