Oregon lawmakers react to US strikes in Iran

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Reaction from Oregon's congressional delegation to the US military strikes in Iran was swift and noted Congress needs to be involved in war decisions.

Nationally, Democrats also pointed out the constitutionally questionable actions by President Trump.

Among the Oregon reactions:

Another Republican President has taken us into another Middle East war, despite Trump claiming to be a President who would choose peace. And has done so in violation of the Constitution—which requires Congressional authorization for war. All to accomplish a mission—disabling Iran's nuclear program—that Netanyahu stated Israel can achieve without U.S. assistance. A wrong decision on all counts. -- Sen. Jeff Merkley on X

The power to declare war lies solely with the United States Congress. President Trump’s decision to launch direct military action against Iran without Congressional approval is unconstitutional and deeply reckless. As a mother, I am fervently committed to protecting our children from another endless war. The American people and our brave service members deserve answers, and I will demand the Trump administration provide them. -- US Rep. Maxine Dexter on X

Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran is unauthorized and unconstitutional. Any future involvement needs to be debated and approved by Congress, especially if it involves our service members. I will continue to uphold the oath I swore to the Constitution and the security of the United States. Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and preventing a nuclear armed Iran is a shared priority for both the United States, Israel and our allies. However, we cannot allow any president to involve us in another open-ended war without constitutional authority." -- US Rep. Andrea Salinas on X

Earlier Saturday in Hood River, Sen. Ron Wyden said he was very concerned about war in the Middle East.

“I’m very concerned about it,” Wyden told KOIN 6 News. “That’s why I’m using my seat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. I can’t talk about classified matters, but I’ve been all over the state making sure that people understand what the stakes are and unilaterally declaring war is contrary to the Constitution.”

Below is the full transcript of President Trump's 3-minute speech following the air strikes,
as transcribed by The Associated Press:

Thank you very much.

A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive, precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime. Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise.

Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.

Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not. Future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.

For 40 years, Iran has been saying. Death to America, death to Israel. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over 1,000 people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East, and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate in particular. So many were killed by their general, Qassim Soleimani. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.

I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight, and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.

Hopefully, we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that’s so. I also want to congratulate the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, spectacular general, and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack.

With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago.

Tomorrow, General Caine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will have a press conference at 8 a.m. at the Pentagon. And I want to just thank everybody. And, in particular, God. I want to just say, we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.