[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 47 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 653
113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 47

                          [Report No. 113-323]

To authorize the limited use of the United States Armed Forces against 
               the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 13, 2014

  Mr. Menendez, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported the 
following original joint resolution; which was read twice and placed on 
                              the calendar

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
To authorize the limited use of the United States Armed Forces against 
               the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Whereas the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the 
        Levant and various other names (in this resolution referred to as 
        ``ISIL'') poses a grave threat to the people and territorial integrity 
        of Iraq, Syria, regional stability, and the national security interests 
        of the United States and its allies and partners;
Whereas ISIL holds significant territory in Iraq and Syria and has stated its 
        intention to seize more territory and demonstrated the capability to do 
        so;
Whereas ISIL leaders have stated that they intend to conduct terrorist attacks 
        internationally, including against the United States, its citizens, and 
        interests;
Whereas ISIL has committed despicable acts of violence and mass executions 
        against Muslims, regardless of sect, who do not subscribe to ISIL's 
        depraved, violent, and oppressive ideology;
Whereas ISIL has threatened genocide and committed vicious acts of violence 
        against religious and ethnic minority groups, including Iraqi 
        Christians, Yezidi, and Turkmen populations;
Whereas ISIL has targeted innocent women and girls with horrific acts of 
        violence, including abduction, enslavement, torture, rape, and forced 
        marriage;
Whereas ISIL is responsible for the brutal murder of innocent United States 
        citizens, including James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and Abdul-Rahman Peter 
        Kassig;
Whereas it is the policy of the United States to work with regional and global 
        allies and partners to degrade and defeat ISIL, to cut off its funding, 
        to stop the flow of foreign fighters to its ranks, and to support local 
        communities as they reject ISIL;
Whereas the announcement of the anti-ISIL Coalition on September 5, 2014, during 
        the NATO Summit in Wales, stated that ISIL poses a serious threat and 
        should be countered by a broad international coalition;
Whereas President Barack Obama articulated five lines of effort in the campaign 
        to counter ISIL, including supporting regional military partners, 
        stopping the flow of foreign fighters, cutting off ISIL's access to 
        financing, addressing urgent humanitarian needs, and contesting ISIL's 
        messaging;
Whereas the United States Government calls on its allies and partners in the 
        Middle East and North Africa that have not already done so to join and 
        participate in the anti-ISIL Coalition;
Whereas the United States Government has successfully conducted airstrikes in 
        Iraq, in coordination with Iraqi and Kurdish security forces, to prevent 
        humanitarian catastrophes, protect vulnerable minority populations, 
        repel ISIL from areas of strategic importance, and demonstrate support 
        to communities in western and northern Iraq being terrorized by ISIL;
Whereas the United States Government has successfully conducted airstrikes in 
        Syria, in coordination with local actors on the ground who demonstrate 
        commitment and capability in countering ISIL, in order to target ISIL 
        training camps and munitions facilities, stop sources of ISIL funding, 
        protect vulnerable minority populations, and target extremist groups 
        intent on attacking the United States and its allies;
Whereas United States and Coalition airstrikes to date have succeeded in halting 
        ISIL's advance in Iraq and Syria;
Whereas the President should to the greatest extent possible act in concert or 
        cooperation with the security forces of other countries in the region to 
        counter the grave threat to regional stability and international 
        security posed by ISIL;
Whereas the anti-ISIL strategy requires effective local security forces in Iraq 
        and Syria, and empowered political leaders committed to leading 
        inclusive, representative governments that enable citizens in both 
        countries to achieve their legitimate aspirations and to live in peace 
        and security; and
Whereas President Obama stated on November 5, 2014, his commitment to working 
        with Congress to pass an authorization for the use of military force for 
        the anti-ISIL military campaign: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Authorization for the 
Use of Military Force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the 
Levant''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Authorization.--The President is authorized, subject to the 
limitations in subsection (c), to use the Armed Forces of the United 
States as the President determines to be necessary and appropriate 
against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or associated persons 
or forces as defined in section 5.
    (b) War Powers Resolution Requirements.--
            (1) Specific statutory authorization.--Consistent with 
        section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
        1547(a)(1)), Congress declares that this section is intended to 
        constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning 
        of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
        1544(b)), within the limits of the authorization established 
        under this section.
            (2) Applicability of other requirements.--Nothing in this 
        resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers 
        Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).
    (c) Limitations.--The authority granted in subsection (a) does not 
authorize the use of the United States Armed Forces for the purpose of 
ground combat operations except as necessary--
            (1) for the protection or rescue of members of the United 
        States Armed Forces or United States citizens from imminent 
        danger posed by ISIL; or
            (2) to conduct missions not intended to result in ground 
        combat operations by United States forces, such as--
                    (A) intelligence collection and sharing;
                    (B) enabling kinetic strikes;
                    (C) operational planning; or
                    (D) other forms of advice and assistance to forces 
                fighting ISIL in Iraq or Syria.

SEC. 3. DURATION OF THIS AUTHORIZATION.

    This authorization for the use of military force shall terminate 
three years after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution, 
unless reauthorized.

SEC. 4. REPORTS.

    (a) Periodic Report.--The President shall report to Congress at 
least once every 60 days on specific actions taken pursuant to this 
authorization.
    (b) Comprehensive Strategy.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
of the enactment of this joint resolution, the President shall submit 
to Congress an unclassified report, which may include a classified 
annex, on the comprehensive strategy of the United States in Iraq and 
Syria, including all activities authorized by this joint resolution. 
The comprehensive strategy report shall include--
            (1) The specific political and diplomatic objectives of the 
        United States in the region and the methods proposed to achieve 
        them.
            (2) Clearly defined military objectives of the United 
        States, including--
                    (A) a list of the organizations and entities to be 
                targeted by military operations;
                    (B) the geographic scope of military operations; 
                and
                    (C) methods for limiting civilian casualties.
            (3) Actual and proposed contributions from coalition 
        partners of the United States, including financing, equipment, 
        training, troops, and logistics support.
            (4) Humanitarian assistance and support for displaced 
        civilian populations.
            (5) Benchmarks for assessing progress toward political, 
        diplomatic, and military goals.
            (6) A realistic end goal and exit strategy.
            (7) An estimate of the costs involved and how any funds 
        made available for activities authorized by this joint 
        resolution will be fully offset through reduced spending, 
        increased revenue, or both.

SEC. 5. ASSOCIATED PERSONS OR FORCES DEFINED.

    In this joint resolution, the term ``associated persons or forces'' 
means individuals and organizations fighting for or on behalf of the 
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or a closely-related successor 
entity, for the purposes of action authorized to be taken under this 
joint resolution.

SEC. 6. APPLICABILITY.

    The provisions of this joint resolution pertaining to the 
authorization of use of force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the 
Levant shall supersede any preceding authorization for the use of 
military force.

SEC. 7. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ.

    The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution 
of 2002 (Public Law 107-243; 116 Stat. 1498; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is 
hereby repealed.

SEC. 8. SUNSET OF 2001 AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE.

    The Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 
U.S.C. 1541 note) shall terminate on the date that is three years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, unless reauthorized.




                                                       Calendar No. 653

113th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                             S. J. RES. 47

                          [Report No. 113-323]

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION

To authorize the limited use of the United States Armed Forces against 
               the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           December 13, 2014

                 Read twice and placed on the calendar