¶ Overview
Lawler called Trump’s war with Iran a “difficult but necessary decision” and said the Trump administration was “right” to keep pressure on Iran.
Lawler voted against multiple resolutions that would direct President Trump to remove troops from Iran, despite the high costs New Yorkers faced due to the war.
¶ Lawler Repeatedly Defended Trump’s War In Iran
¶ Lawler Defended Trump’s War With Iran As “A Difficult But Necessary Decision”
Lawler Called The Trump Administration’s War In Iran “A Difficult But Necessary Decision.” According to an interview with Rep. Mike Lawler on Military.com, “LAWLER: Look, you've had a terrorist regime in control of Iran for 47 years, and every president and nearly every member of Congress has said repeatedly and routinely for decades that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon. I think the president made a difficult but necessary decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities last summer and again, to go after their ballistic missiles capabilities, their drone capacity, their naval fleet, their air defenses, and in concert with Israel, their leadership and eliminating the ayatollah, the clerics, the leadership of the IRGC, there are still challenges ahead and issues to resolve. But fundamentally, if Iran possessed a nuclear weapon, I'm not sure what folks think would happen, whether it's in the Strait of Hormuz or with respect to our military bases in the region or with respect to our allies. They've already shown over the last three years a willingness to use ballistic missiles to indiscriminately target U.S. military personnel and bases and civilian populations in allied nations. And so if they have the capacity to use a nuke and had the ability to build it. That is something that I don't think anybody would think is acceptable. And so from my vantage point, I think the president made a difficult decision, but a necessary one, to eliminate a long threat that has been posed to the United States and our allies.” [Military.com, 7/23/26] (video), 00:08:38 -> 00:10:18
Lawler Said The Trump Administration’s Actions In Iran Were “Right” And Claimed “Keeping The Pressure On Them Both Militarily And Economically Is What Is Going To Ultimately Force Resolution Here.” According an interview with Rep. Mike Lawler on Fox Business’ Varney and Company, “LAWLER: And so I think the president was right, given their actions in the Strait of Hormuz the other day, to take aggressive military actions to once again go after their remaining military capabilities and diminish them even further. Hopefully, you know, they will see the light of day and actually come back to a negotiating table. But fundamentally, from my vantage point, you know, keeping the pressure on them both militarily and economically is what is going to ultimately force resolution here and ensure that they are no longer a threat.” [Fox Business: Varney and Company, 7/9/26] (video), (00:00:41 -> 00:01:25)
¶ Lawler Repeatedly Voted Against Ending The United States’ Hostilities In Iran
¶ July 2026: Lawler Voted Against Removing U.S. Armed Forces From Hostilities Against Iran Unless Explicitly Authorized By A Declaration Of War
2026: Lawler Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Lawler 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]
¶ June 2026: Lawler Voted Against Removing U.S. Armed Forces From Hostilities Against Iran Unless Explicitly Authorized By A Declaration Of War
2026: Lawler Effectively Voted Against Withdrawing US Troops From Iran. In July 2026 Lawler 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]
- As Hostilities Resumed, The Price Of Crude Oil Exceeded $100 Per Barrel For The First Time Since May With The Average Cost Per Gallon Of Gas Exceeding $4. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Apparently in response, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil exceeded $100 on Thursday for the first time since May. The national average price of a gallon of gas in the United States averaged just over $4 on Thursday, per AAA. And polls show the war is unpopular among Americans.” [Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26]
¶ May 2026: Lawler Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War
5/14/26: Lawler Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Rep. Mike Lawler 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: Lawler Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress
4/16/26: Lawler Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress. In April 2026, Rep. Mike Lawler 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: Lawler Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran
3/5/26: Lawler Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran. In March 2026, Lawler 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]
Lawler Touted His Voted Against The Iran War Powers Resolution And Claimed President Trump Was Within His Authorities As Commander In Chief To Conduct Operation Epic Fury. According to Rep. Mike Lawler’s Twitter, “Today, I voted on three very important national security measures. I voted NO on the Iran War Powers resolution because President Trump is within his authorities as commander in Chief to conduct Operation Epic Fury against the evil Iranian regime. This resolution failed, affirming the President's ability to act here I voted YES on Chairman Mast's resolution to affirm that Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. While this passed overwhelmingly, over 50 of my Democratic colleagues voted no. Are they out of their minds or simply ignoring the facts?”
[Twitter, @repmikelawler, 3/5/26]
¶ The United States’ War With Iran Raised Costs For New Yorkers
¶ Gas Prices In New York Surged Amid The United States’ Conflict With Iran
7/28/26: Gas Prices In Westchester County Averaged $4.41 Per Gallon And Across The State Of New York Gas Averaged $4.23 Per Gallon. According to AAA, as of July 28, 2026, gas prices in Westchester County averaged $4.41 per gallon and prices averaged $4.23 per gallon across the state of New York.
[AAA Fuel Prices – New York, Viewed 7/28/26]
July 2026: The National Average Price For A Gallon Of Gas Was Reapproaching $4 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 In 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: "Gas Prices Top $4 A Gallon As Iran War Escalates" [ABC 7 New York, 7/20/26]
¶ The Iran War Increased The Cost Of Fresh Food And Everyday Goods
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]
HEADLINE: "Higher Prices For Gas, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The Iran War" [AP News, 6/16/26]