[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 2 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 2
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against the Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant and its associated forces.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2017
Mr. Cole submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against the Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant and its associated forces.
Whereas the terrorist organization referred to as the Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant and various other names (in this concurrent resolution
referred to as ``ISIL'') has been systematically targeting, kidnapping,
and killing innocent men, women, and children throughout Iraq and Syria,
continues to expand its terror influence, and is responsible for recent
attacks in Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, and France;
Whereas foreign fighters, undeterred by the more than 60 nation coalition
operating against ISIL, continue to join the ranks of ISIL with the goal
of establishing a caliphate;
Whereas, on June 19, 2014, President Barack Obama stated that ``ISIL poses a
threat to the Iraqi people, to the region and to U.S. interests'';
Whereas, on August 19, 2014, ISIL released a video of the beheading of an
American journalist, James Foley, and threatened to kill more Americans;
Whereas, on September 2, 2014, ISIL released a second video, of the beheading of
an Israeli-American journalist, Steven Sotloff, and again threatened to
kill more;
Whereas a Central Intelligence Agency assessment in September 2014 estimated
that ISIL can muster as many as 31,500 fighters in Syria and Iraq alone;
Whereas, on November 16, 2014, ISIL released yet another video of militant
``Jihadi John'' standing over the severed head of former Army Ranger
Peter Kassig;
Whereas Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler, a member of a United States Special
Forces operations team, was killed during a daring raid on an ISIL
stronghold in Iraq to rescue 70 prisoners who were slated to be
executed;
Whereas American hostage Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old female, was kidnapped and
repeatedly raped for almost 18 months by the leader of ISIL, Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi;
Whereas, on November 13, 2015, ISIL carried out a coordinated attack on Paris,
France, killing more than 129 people from at least 14 different
countries, including American student Nohemi Gonzalez;
Whereas, on November 16, 2015, Central Intelligence Agency Director Brennan
warned, following ISIL's horrific terrorist in Paris, that the attack
was likely ``not the only operation that ISIL has in the pipeline'';
Whereas, on August 18, 2014, Pope Francis said that the international community
would be justified in stopping ISIL;
Whereas, on August 21, 2014, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Dempsey stated that ISIL ``has an apocalyptic, end-of-days
strategic vision and which will eventually have to be defeated'';
Whereas, on September 16, 2014, former Secretary of Defense Hagel testified
before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that ``if left
unchecked, ISIL will directly threaten our homeland and our allies'';
Whereas, on September 17, 2014, during a hearing of the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate, Secretary of State Kerry stated that ``ISIL
must be defeated. Period. End of story'';
Whereas, on March 13, 2015, Central Intelligence Agency Director Brennan stated
that ``ISIL is well-armed and well-financed. Its fighters are
disciplined, committed, and battle-hardened. Left unchecked, the group
would pose a serious danger not only to Syria and Iraq, but to the wider
region beyond, including the threat of attacks in the homelands of the
United States and our partners'';
Whereas, on July 23, 2015, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Comey stated
that ``[t]he threat that ISIL presents to the United States is very
different in kind, in type, in degree than al Qaeda. ISIL is not your
parent's al Qaeda, it's a very different model. And by virtue of that
model, it's currently the threat that we are worried about in the
homeland most of all'';
Whereas, on November 16, 2015, following the attacks on Paris, France, ISIL
released a video threatening to ``strike America at its center in
Washington'';
Whereas, on November 17, 2015, former Central Intelligence Agency Director
Panetta warned that countering the threat posed by ISIL ``isn't about
containment. It is about defeating ISIS. I think if there's anything we
ought to understand from these last events [in Paris], it's that we have
to go to war against this brutal enemy'';
Whereas after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress authorized
the use of military force against al Qaeda;
Whereas ISIL poses a direct threat to the United States homeland that is equal
to or greater than the threat posed by al Qaeda prior to the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001; and
Whereas, although nothing in this concurrent resolution limits the authorities
of the President under article 2 of the Constitution of the United
States, Justice Robert H. Jackson wrote in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.
v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952) that ``[w]hen the President acts pursuant
to an express or implied authorization of Congress, his authority is at
its maximum, for it includes all that he possesses in his own right plus
all that Congress can delegate'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ``Authorization for
Use of Military Force Against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
and its Associated Forces''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--The President is authorized to use all necessary
and appropriate force in order to defend the national security of the
United States against the continuing threat posed by the Islamic State
of Iraq and the Levant, its associated forces, organizations, and
persons, and any successor organizations.
(b) War Powers Resolution Requirements.--
(1) Specific statutory authorization.--Consistent with
section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, Congress declares
that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory
authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War
Powers Resolution.
(2) Applicability of other requirements.--Nothing in this
concurrent resolution supercedes any requirement of the War
Powers Resolution.
SEC. 3. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) Reports.--The President shall, at least once every 60 days,
submit to Congress a report on matters relevant to this concurrent
resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of
authority granted in section 2.
(b) Single Consolidated Report.--To the extent that the submission
of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission
of any other report on matters relevant to this concurrent resolution
otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the
reporting requirements of the War Powers Resolution, all such reports
may be submitted as a single consolidated report to Congress.
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