Rep. Vasquez Backs Bill to Prevent President from Unilaterally Escalating Iran War with Nuclear Strike

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 9, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) announced his support for The Nuclear First-Strike Security Act of 2025 (H.R.3564), a bill to prevent the President from unilaterally escalating the war in Iran by offensively striking Iran with nuclear weapons without consulting Congress. 

“This bill is a commonsense step to ensure no single President can use nuclear weapons offensively to escalate a conflict that could affect the entire world without first making it clear to Congress why using nuclear weapons is valid and legal,” said Rep. Vasquez. “Before the President uses the might of the U.S. military to take such a devastating action, Congress, and the American people, should have a say.”

The bill preserves the President’s ability to respond in emergency situations, such as a nuclear attack, declared war, or a launch-on-warning scenario, while requiring consultation and legal justification in other cases.

“Unchecked power in matters of war risks both lives and trust in our democracy,” Vasquez added. “This legislation restores that essential check and helps prevent unnecessary escalation that goes against the will of the American people.”

The "Nuclear First Strike Security Act of 2025" provides Congress the means to check the President’s ability to conduct a nuclear first strike without oversight. Specifically, this bill:

• Prohibits the President from launching a first-use nuclear strike without certification from the Secretary of Defense to Congressional leadership that the strike is valid and legal; and
• Creates exceptions to the aforementioned prohibition to ensure no language in the bill can be construed to interfere with the country’s ability to defend itself or allies from nuclear attack.

The Congressman’s support of this legislation and call to curb unilateral military action in Iran builds upon his work to bring the conflict in Iran to a close and gas prices back down:

• Rep. Vasquez voted in support of the Iran War Powers Resolution to curb the Administration's unilateral military actions in Iran without Congressional approval.
• Rep. Vasquez sent a letter to the President demanding answers on the Administration’s strategy to address rising energy prices driven by the ongoing conflict with Iran, as families and small businesses in southern New Mexico face sharp cost increases.
• Rep. Vasquez sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner rejecting the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) proposal to impose a temporary 8% “fuel surcharge” on consumers, passing the cost of the Administration’s reckless war in Iran and spiking gas prices on to Americans.
• Rep. Vasquez joined Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee in a push for accountability and transparency around the war, demanding that a public hearing be immediately convened and the Department of Defense be brought in to testify on President Trump’s war against Iran.

###