WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 51 to 49 Thursday against requiring President Donald Trump to get congressional consent to use U.S. military forces for what Sen. Adam Schiff called “an unauthorized war against Venezuela.”

Schiff, D-California, and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, aim to halt any Trump administration action within Venezuela unless Congress agrees

“We should have a say in this before we go to war with Venezuela,” Schiff told reporters.

For weeks, the military has been an increasing presence in the Caribbean, with troops, drones, warships and other equipment and personnel.

While Trump has said he wants President Nicolas Maduro out, he also has been reluctant recently to say he wants a war.

“I don’t think so, but they’ve been treating us very badly,” he said about the prospect for war on CBS’ “60 Minutes” earlier this week.

Before that could happen, a lot of senators want to give their consent. Whether that’s needed or not has been a subject of fierce debate.

“The Trump administration has made it clear that they may launch military action against land targets inside Venezuela’s borders, escalating from the boat strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific,” Schiff said.

Recently, he found, “We have seen increasingly concerning movement of military assets and reporting that undermines any claim that this is merely about stopping drug smugglers. Congress has not authorized military force against Venezuela.”

The 1973 War Powers Resolution, enacted after Congress felt it had not been properly advised or consulted about the Vietnam War, requires the president to generally consult Congress before engaging in military action.

In an emergency the president can act, must notify Congress within 48 hours and then can continue the military action for 60 days, plus a 30-day withdrawal period, unless Congress agrees otherwise.

“Congress should not cede its power to any president,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, a co-sponsor of Thursday’s legislation.

Did Republicans support Schiff?

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, were the only Republicans supporting the Schiff measure. Paul discussed how the administration has been targeting boats in the Caribbean it suspects of being involved in drug-related activity.

“These are small outboards with no fentanyl and no path to Florida. To kill indiscriminately is akin to summary execution! Everyone should get a trial because sometimes the system gets it wrong. Even the worst of the worst in our country get due process.,” he said.

“The bottom line is that execution without process is not justice, and blowing up foreign ships is a recipe for chaos,” Paul said.

The administration has been working to calm senators. Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed senators from both parties earlier this week.

The Thursday measure was similar to one the Senate narrowly rejected last month. Schiff tried to require Trump to get congressional approval before continuing the administration’s strikes against ships in the Caribbean.

That resolution would have barred the U.S. military from engaging in hostilities “against certain non-state organizations” without congressional consent.

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