The Quincy Institute presented its annual Award for Responsible Statecraft Wednesday to Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), to recognize their joint efforts to rein in U.S. militarism and reassert Congress’s war powers.
The lawmakers said politicians should work across the political aisle, to challenge unnecessary entanglements abroad.
“Over the last 20 years or so, we have lost a sense of forming unusual coalitions on different issues…what Thomas and I are showing on war powers is that such coalitions are possible, particularly to re-assert Congress’s role,” Rep. Khanna said. “The times where Congress is not consulted are usually when Congress reflects the American people’s weariness with regime change and endless wars.”
“It is a great honor to be here with Ro Khanna,” said Rep. Massie. “You can find anti-war Democrats, but not often when the president is a Democrat. The same goes for Republicans. But Ro’s been a consistent critic of war regardless of the presidency.”
Watch the video of the award presentation, produced by Quincy Institute senior video producer Khody Akhavi:
Remarks from Rep. Massie:
Remarks from Rep. Ro Khanna: