SF 1503

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/10/2023 08:41am

A resolution
expressing the concern of the Minnesota Legislature regarding the deployment of
members of the Minnesota National Guard into combat as part of wars not declared
by Congress; urging the Congress and President of the United States to respect their
constitutional roles regarding the declaration of war.

WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11, of the Constitution of the United States grants
Congress, and only Congress, the power to declare war; and

WHEREAS, since Congress last declared war during World War II, the American military
has repeatedly been deployed to fight in conflicts overseas, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands
of American military personnel in combat operations that occurred outside a formal declaration of
war; and

WHEREAS, Minnesotans have always proudly and bravely served our country in uniform,
and will continue to answer when called to serve by their nation; and

WHEREAS, due to the immense respect Minnesotans hold for those who fight for their
freedom, it is right that our state's political institutions do everything possible to honor and protect
those who serve, especially those who serve our state and nation as part of the Minnesota National
Guard, including by insisting that those who have volunteered to serve our state and nation are only
placed into combat overseas after the people's representatives in Congress vote to declare war, as
provided by the United States Constitution; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota urges the Congress of the
United States, as the elected representatives of the people, to immediately reassert their proper role
under the Constitution of the United States by insisting that the American military is not sent into
combat overseas without a vote by Congress to declare war.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota urges the
President of the United States to respect the United States Constitution and America's service
members by only sending the American military to participate in combat overseas after the Congress
of the United States has declared war.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota requests the
President of the United States and the Governor of the State of Minnesota refrain from issuing
orders that would lead to the deployment of members of the Minnesota National Guard to overseas
combat operations unless such operations occur as part of a war that has been formally declared
by the Congress of the United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is directed
to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States, the
United States Secretary of Defense, the Governor of the State of Minnesota, the President and the
Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of
Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.