¶ Overview
- Lee admitted that Trump's war with Iran was causing her constituents to pay higher gas prices, but argued that was a worthy price to pay in order to protect American national security. While Floridians were paying an extra $3.89 billion for gas, threatening to shutter businesses, and grocery costs were on the rise, Lee was voting in lockstep with her Republican Congress members to ensure Trump's war with Iran could continue unchecked.
¶ Lee Backed Trump’s Costly War With Iran That Raised Prices For Floridians
¶ Lee Defended Trump’s War With Iran, Claiming It Was Essential To Protect American National Security
2/28/26: Lee Claimed Trump’s War In Iran Was An Effort To Protect American National Security. Rep. Laurel Lee tweeted, “For decades, Iran has funded terror, pursued nuclear escalation, and threatened American lives. President Trump has made clear: we will protect our troops, our citizens, and our national security. Praying for the safety of our brave servicemembers and our allies. God bless America. 🇺🇸”
[Twitter, @RepLaurelLee, 2/28/26]
6/29/26: Lee Admitted Trump’s War In Iran Was Causing Her Constituents To Pay High Gas Prices, But Argued The War Was Necessary To Protect American National Security. According to Rep. Laurel Lee on NewsNation, “HOST: But here at home, less than 35% of American voters actually approve of how President Trump is handling the war with Iran. And now we're seeing more than a fifty-cent drop in gas prices since a month ago, which is music to the president's ears for sure. We're still seeing prices, though, above where they were before the war started. And it's impacting a lot more than just what we put in our car because we know it trickles down. How is all of this being felt by your constituents in Florida? What are you doing to help them?’ LEE: Well, certainly we all feel the rise in gas prices. We all feel the relief when they come back down. I mean, that is one of the things that universally we all feel when it, when it affects our pocketbooks. But I think what we need to watch here is that President Trump's resolve with respect to the right outcome in Iran is very strong. He is looking at the endgame, and what do we need to see happen? So, while certainly we need to do everything we can to make sure that the American people are able to afford gas and afford groceries and do all of the things that we need to do to protect them at home. President Trump will not be deterred when it comes to protecting our national security and our troops who are serving our country overseas. So I think he has a very long-term objective here. And I do think that one of our jobs as members of Congress and people who have the opportunity to serve in Washington is to come home and make sure that the people we represent understand that actually they are being protected and their interests are being served by ensuring that we aren't threatened by this regime overseas.” [Rep. Laurel Lee, NewsNation: Morning in America, 6/28/26] (video)
¶ Lee Repeatedly Voted Against Ending The United States’ Action In Iran
¶ July 2026: Lee Voted Against Removing U.S. Armed Forces From Hostilities Against Iran Unless Explicitly Authorized By A Declaration Of War
2026: Lee Effectively Voted Against Withdrawing US Troops From Iran. In July 2026 Lee voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “motion to discharge the Foreign Relations Committee from further consideration of the joint resolution that would direct the president to withdraw U.S. armed forces hostilities against Iran not authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for military force.” The vote was on adoption of the resolution. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 214 to 208. [House Vote 282, 7/23/26; Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.89]
- The Senate Voted Against Ending The War In Iran On The Same Day. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The House and Senate, in votes Thursday on ending the Iran war, came to different conclusions, but the majority of voting members of Congress said it is time to bring U.S. troops home. The House, for the second time, formally called on President Donald Trump to end the war, approving 214-208 a nonbinding concurrent resolution (H Con Res 89) by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.” [Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26]
- The Vote Came After The Trump Administration Declared A Memorandum Of Understanding From The Previous Month “Over”, With Three US Troops Killed The Weekend Before And Houthi Strikes Against Two Saudi Tankers The Day Before. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Last month, the Trump administration announced it had reached a memorandum of understanding with Iran. But less than a month later, Trump declared the MOU ‘over.’ On July 10, he formally notified Congress fighting in the war had resumed. Over the weekend, three U.S. troops were killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan, while a fourth U.S. service member in Iraq died during what was supposed to be a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone. Iran’s proxy group in Yemen, the Houthis, struck two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday. Such attacks could choke off another bottleneck in the global economy in addition to the ongoing throttling of trade in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the war.” [Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26]
¶ June 2026: Lee Voted Against Removing U.S. Armed Forces From Hostilities Against Iran Unless Explicitly Authorized By A Declaration Of War
2026: Lee Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Lee voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “adoption of a resolution that would direct the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.” The vote was on passage. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 215 to 208. [House Vote 199, 6/3/26; Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res. 86]
- The Vote Occurred As The War Entered Its Fourth Month, And Was The House’s Fourth Vote On The War As Gas And Food Prices Continued To Rise. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Either way, supporters say the House adopting the resolution sends an important message to Trump that Congress is fed up with the war as it lumbers into its fourth month. ‘We're now past 90 days, there seems to be no end to this war, and folks want some accountability, Democrats and Republicans,’ New York Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the sponsor of Wednesday’s resolution, said ahead of the vote. ‘The American people are suffering. The cost of gas continues to go up, the cost of food and inflation keeps going up.’ ‘So it's been building and building,’ Meeks added. Wednesday’s vote was the House’s fourth on an Iran war powers resolution since the war started at the end of February, with each vote getting tighter than before. In the third vote last month, the measure was rejected 212-212.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
- GOP Leadership Delayed The Vote Through A Week-Long Recess When It Became Clear It Would Pass. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The House had originally been slated to vote on Meeks’ resolution before the Memorial Day recess. But when it became apparent the resolution was likely to be approved, particularly with a handful of Republican absences, GOP leadership yanked the vote from the schedule. Republicans could not delay the vote beyond Wednesday since the 1973 War Powers Resolution (PL 93-148) requires the House to vote within three legislative days of a measure being called up on the floor.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
- The Vote Came Amidst Ongoing Strikes Despite A Proclaimed Ceasefire With Iran Claiming It Was Suspending Talks Following An Israeli Incursion Of Lebanon. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The growing congressional angst over the war comes as an already fragile ceasefire appears increasingly tenuous and the Trump administration’s negotiations with Iran stumble. Early Wednesday morning, Iran launched a missile and drone attack at an airport in Kuwait, killing an Indian national and injuring dozens of other people, in what Tehran described as a response to U.S. strikes on Iran the night before. U.S. Central Command said Iran also targeted U.S. forces in Kuwait but that air defenses shot down the drones and ‘ensured no American personnel or assets were harmed.’ On Tuesday evening, Central Command said it conducted ‘self-defense strike’ on Iran’s Qeshm Island in response to Iran firing missiles and drones toward Kuwait and Bahrain. Hours earlier, Central Command also said U.S. forces fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of a Botswana-flagged oil tanker that it alleged was trying to evade the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports. The exchange of fire comes amid on-again-off-again talks to end the war. On Monday, Iran said it was suspending talks with the United States in response to Israel’s incursion into Lebanon. But Trump maintained that talks are continuing despite Iran’s statement, posting on Truth Social on Tuesday that ‘the conversations between us have been going on continuously.’” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
¶ May 2026: Lee Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War
5/14/26: Lee Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Lee voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force against Iran. It would clarify that nothing in the measure could be construed to disrupt intelligence, counterintelligence or investigative activities.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the resolution by a vote of 212 to 212. [House Vote 170, 5/14/26; Congressional Quarterly, 5/14/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res. 75]
¶ April 2026: Lee Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress
4/16/26: Lee Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress. In April 2026, Lee voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran. The measure would exempt the use of U.S. armed forces that may be necessary to defend the U.S. or a U.S. ally or partner from imminent attack.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the resolution by a vote of 213 to 214. [House Vote 114, 4/16/26; Congressional Quarterly, 4/16/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.40]
¶ March 2026: Lee Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran
3/5/26: Lee Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran. In March 2026, Lee voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the concurrent resolution by a vote of 212 to 219. [House Vote 85, 3/5/26; Congressional Quarterly, 3/5/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.38]
¶ Trump’s War With Iran Was Costly For Floridians
HEADLINE: “‘Everything Is Expensive’: South Florida Drivers React To Rising Gas Prices As Iran War Tensions Intensify” [WSVN, 7/13/26]
¶ Regular And Diesel Gas Prices Across Florida Soared As A Result Of The War
Florida Recorded A $3.89 Billion Increase In Gasoline Spending Since The Beginning Of The Iran War. According to Patch, “Higher gas prices have cost the average American household an extra $477 since the war with Iran began Feb. 28, adding up to more than $56.4 billion in extra spending nationwide, according to an analysis by Democrats in Congress. […] In raw dollars, Texas recorded the largest increase in gasoline spending at about $5.74 billion, followed by California at $5.45 billion and Florida at $3.89 billion. The state-by-state estimates underscore how changes in fuel prices can ripple differently across the country, especially in places where people drive longer distances or consume more gasoline overall.” [Patch, 7/23/26]
- HEADLINE: “Americans’ Confidence In US Economy Falls As Iran Conflict Sends Gas Prices Higher” [ABC 27 News, 7/28/26]
July 2026: The National Average Price For A Gallon Of Gas Was Approaching $4 Again After Trump Declared A Ceasefire Was Over. According to Arizona’s Family, "Gas prices continue to inch up after President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire agreement with Iran was ‘over.’ AAA reported the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was just shy of $4, at $3.98 a gallon. On Thursday, the average price of diesel was back up to about $5 a gallon. Oil and gas prices had been declining after the U.S. and Iran signed a peace plan to end the war in June." [Arizona’s Family, 7/17/26]
- The War With Iran Caused Fuel Inventories To Plunge To Historic Lows, Leading To A Major Surge In Gas Prices. According to the Washington Post, "Americans face a new round of punishing price increases for fuel and other products as oil and gas inventories plunge to historic lows around the world because of the war in Iran, energy executives and analysts warn. Fuel stocks are so low, experts said, that even an abrupt agreement between the United States and Iran and an immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies passed before the war — may not stop fuel prices from soaring anew by the July Fourth holiday." [Washington Post, 6/3/26]
- HEADLINE: “Oil Prices Surge After Trump Vows Retaliation For Iranian Attack” [ABC News, 7/29/26]
8/6/26: Diesel Cost An Average Of $5.37 In Florida.
[AAA, Florida Fuel Prices, Viewed 8/6/26]
- HEADLINE: “'You Can't Make Revenue,' Florida Businesses Lament Rising Gas Prices” [Daytona Beach News-Journal, 4/4/26]
¶ Trump’s War With Iran Was Costing Florida Families At The Grocery Store
HEADLINE: “Experts Say Florida Grocery Costs Will 'Hit Harder Than We Think'” [Daytona Beach News-Journal, 4/13/26]
July 2026: Prices For Fresh Food, School Supplies, And Any Goods That Required Shipment Were Expected To Increase Amid Energy Price Increases Due To The United States’ War With Iran. According to PBS, “Already feeling pinched since the start of the Iran war, consumers are likely to feel more pain ahead as oil prices pushed past $100 a barrel Thursday amid renewed fighting and military strikes that have left global oil supplies stranded in the Middle East. The elevated price marked a turn from lower oil prices enjoyed briefly when hostilities between the U.S. and Iran waned in June. Brent crude, the international standard, last reached $100 a barrel in May. Companies that produce and sell fresh food, school supplies and anything that gets shipped using fuel reported cost impacts from an earlier spike in energy prices after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. They're likely to continue passing some of their increased expenses to consumers.” [PBS News, 7/24/26]
May 2026: Economists Said The Full Impact Of Rising Energy Costs On Food Was Yet To Hit Retail Grocery Prices. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “The full impact of rising energy costs on food likely has not hit retail grocery prices yet in the U.S., according to Purdue University economists Ken Foster and Bernhard Dalheimer. Higher costs to produce, process, store and transport food can take three to six months to show up on supermarket shelves, where prices typically fall slowly once increased, they said. ‘Most of what we’re seeing now in the food price chain probably predates the conflict,’ Foster, a professor of agricultural economics, said. ‘We’re cautiously waiting to see what the June numbers and the May numbers might show as they come out in terms of … the extent to which energy shocks in the Strait of Hormuz and shipping blockades and so forth are going to impact food prices.’ The consumer price index measures changes in what people in U.S. cities paid at retail stores for meat, bread, milk, produce and other grocery staples. Over the last 20 years, grocery prices increased an average of 2.6%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.” [Orlando Sentinel, 5/13/26]
Tomatoes, Bananas, And Onions Experienced Major Price Hikes Since The Beginning Of The War. According to Fortune, "The U.S., Israel, and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, but the sticker shock you’ve been feeling every time you go to the grocery store will get worse if the war continues. One of the first places you’ll feel it will be the produce aisle, experts say. A Fortune analysis of produce wholesale prices from USDA data found grocery-cart staples such as tomatoes, bananas, and yellow onions have experienced significant price spikes since the war began. The United Nations reported its global food price index rose by 2.4% in March, the second consecutive month of rising prices." [Fortune, 4/8/26]
- HEADLINE: "Higher Prices For Gas, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The Iran War" [AP News, 6/16/26]
¶ The War With Iran Cost U.S. Families $100 Billion So Far
As Of June 2026, The War In Iran Cost U.S. Families $100 Billion So Far. According to Fortune, "$750 a household—or $100 billion. This is the cost that Moody’s has calculated the Iran War has been so far to the U.S. consumer. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said the cost passed on to households is the result of increased military spending and higher prices as a result of oil supply disruption out of the Middle East. Since the U.S. and Israel launched action against Iran—setting off a domino-effect of attacks across the Middle East—brent crude has topped $110 a barrel on multiple occasions." [Fortune, 6/2/26]
Americans, By A Margin Of 56 Percent To 7 Percent, Expected Trump’s War In Iran To Have A “Mostly Negative Impact” On Their Personal Financial Situation. According to The Washington Post, “Americans, by a margin of 56 percent to 7 percent, expect the war to have a ‘mostly negative impact’ on their personal financial situation, according to a March 31 Ipsos poll. A Middle East conflict that lasts for several more months would almost certainly spread higher prices and supply chain disruption beyond Asia and Europe to American shores. ‘I don’t think the U.S. will avoid it. These are global markets,’ said Rachel Ziemba, a New York-based analyst who advises corporations on geopolitical risk. ‘Experts, even a week ago, were worried. Now they are more worried.’” [Washington Post, 4/4/26]