Revision of War Powers Resolution

The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541–1548) is amended by striking out all after the resolving clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

Short title; purpose; congressional legislative authority

(a)

Short title

This joint resolution may be cited as the War Powers Resolution.(b)

Purpose

It is the purpose of this joint resolution to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and ensure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and the President will apply to—(1)the introduction of United States Forces into hostilities; and(2)the continued use of United States Forces in hostilities.(c)

Congressional legislative authority

Among the powers granted to the Congress by the Constitution are—(1)the power to declare war;(2)the power of the purse (No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law); and(3)the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution not only its own powers but also all other powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

Emergency uses of United States Forces in hostilities

(a)

In general

United States Forces may be introduced into hostilities only as follows:(1)

Declaration of war

Pursuant to a declaration of war by the Congress.(2)

Specific statutory authorization

(A)

In general

In accordance with a specific statutory authorization described in subparagraph (B).(B)

Specific statutory authorization described

A specific statutory authorization for introduction of United States Forces into hostilities described in this subparagraph shall—(i)provide for authorization of the use of necessary and appropriate military force with respect to such use of United States Forces;(ii)(I)clearly define the threat that necessitates use of such military force, the mission and objectives that use of such military force is authorized to achieve, and identify each foreign country in which such military force is authorized;(II)clearly define the parameters for when use of such military force is no longer necessary or appropriate; and(III)clearly and specifically identify each foreign country and organized armed group with respect to which such military force will be used;(iii)require the President to seek from the Congress a subsequent specific statutory authorization for introduction of United States Forces into hostilities—(I)if—(aa)the threat or mission or objectives defined in clause (ii)(I) or the list of foreign countries identified in such clause is to be expanded;(bb)the parameters defined in clause (ii)(II) are to be expanded; or(cc)the list of foreign countries or organized armed groups identified in clause (ii)(III) is to be expanded; and(II)which shall include updated information to the information required by clause (ii); and(iv)provide for termination of the authorization for such use of United States Forces not later than the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of such authorization unless the Congress enacts a joint resolution providing a subsequent specific authorization for such use of United States Forces.(C)

Rule of construction

Nothing in subparagraph (B) may be construed to authorize United States Forces to engage in hostilities against any foreign country or organized armed group that is not clearly and specifically identified in clause (ii)(III) of such subparagraph.(3)

Armed attack on united states

To the extent necessary and proportionate—(A)to repel an armed attack upon the United States; or(B)to forestall the direct and imminent threat of such an armed attack.(4)

Armed attack on United States Forces

To the extent necessary and proportionate—(A)to repel an armed attack against United States Forces located outside the United States; or(B)to forestall the direct and imminent threat of such an armed attack.(5)

Evacuation of united states citizens

To the extent necessary to protect United States citizens or nationals while evacuating them as rapidly as possible from a situation, outside the United States, that directly and imminently threatens their lives or liberty and—(A)the threatened deprivation of life or liberty is unlawful; and(B)in a case where the source of the threat is within a foreign country, the threat is supported by the government of that country or the government of that country is unable or unwilling to secure the release of the United States citizens or nationals.

The President shall make every effort to terminate any such threat through peaceful means without using United States Forces. Before using United States Forces to protect United States citizens or nationals being evacuated from a foreign country in accordance with this paragraph, the President shall, where possible, obtain the consent of the government of that country.

(b)

Conditions on emergency use of United States Forces

Any use of United States Forces in accordance with paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of subsection (a)—(1)is subject to the requirements of sections 3, 4, and 5; and(2)shall be limited, in terms of United States Forces which are used and the manner in which they are used, to such use as is essential in order to achieve the purpose described in that paragraph.(c)

Funding limitation

Funds appropriated or otherwise made available under any law may not be obligated or expended for any introduction, other than an introduction described in subsection (a), of United States Forces into hostilities.

Consultation between the President and Congress

(a)

Requirements for consultation

(1)The President, in every possible instance, shall consult with the Congress before United States Forces are introduced into hostilities in accordance with paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of section 2(a). After every such introduction, the President shall consult regularly with the Congress until United States Forces are no longer in hostilities.(2)The President, in every possible instance, shall consult with the Congress—(A)before United States Forces are introduced into a foreign country while equipped for combat, except for deployments which relate solely to supply, replacement, repair, or training of such forces; or(B)before United States Forces are introduced into a foreign country in which there are already United States Forces equipped for combat if such introduction would substantially enlarge the number of United States Forces equipped for combat located in that country or otherwise substantially increase the military capabilities of such forces.(b)

Executive-Legislative consultative group

The consultation required by subsection (a) shall include participation by—(1)the President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of National Intelligence, and those senior executive branch officials designated by the President;(2)the Speaker, the Minority leader and Majority leader, the Majority whip and Minority whip, the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services, the chair and ranking member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and any other Members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker or the Minority leader; and(3)the Majority and Minority leader, the Majority whip and Minority whip, the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services, the chair and ranking member of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and any Senator designated by the Majority or Minority leader.(c)

What consultation requires

In order to satisfy the consultation requirement of this section, the President must ask Members of Congress for their advice and opinions before the decision is made to introduce United States Forces, and in no event later than 48 hours prior to introduction of United States Forces. Such consultation requires that all information relevant to the situation must be made available to the Members of Congress being consulted. The consultation requirement of this section is not met, however, if the Congress is merely informed about the situation.

Reports to the Congress

(a)

Reporting requirement

The President shall submit the report described in subsection (b) no later than 48 hours after United States Forces are introduced into hostilities in accordance with paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of section 2(a).(b)

Description of report required

The report required by subsection (a) is a written report submitted by the President to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore and Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Executive-Legislative consultative group described in section 3(b) on the same calendar day, setting forth—(1)the circumstances necessitating the introduction of United States Forces;(2)the specific constitutional and legislative authority under which such introduction took place; (3)the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities or the involvement of United States Forces, as the case may be, and an identification of each foreign country and organized armed group against which United States Forces are engaged in hostilities, including the foreign countries and geographic locations of such hostilities; and(4)the estimated cost of the hostilities or the involvement of United States Forces, including the cost of any other resources involved in supporting such Forces.

Any such report shall state expressly that it is being submitted pursuant to this section.

(c)

Additional information

The President shall provide such other information as the Congress may request in the fulfillment of its constitutional responsibilities with respect to committing the Nation to war and to the use of United States Forces abroad. The President shall provide such information no later than 14 days after the date on which the President receives such request from the Congress.(d)

Continuing reports

(1)

In general

Whenever United States Forces are introduced into hostilities the President shall, so long as United States Forces continue to be involved in those hostilities, report to the Congress periodically on the continued application of the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b), including the status of such hostilities, the scope and estimated duration of such hostilities, and the estimated cost of such hostilities or the involvement of United States Forces, but in no event shall the President report to the Congress less often than once every 30 days.(2)

Form

The report required by this section, and particularly the matters described in subsection (b)(3) of the report, shall be submitted in unclassified form. The report may contain a classified annex.

Congressional action with respect to hostilities

(a)

Receipt of section 4(a) report

Each report submitted pursuant to section 4(a) shall be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate for appropriate action. If, when the report is transmitted, the Congress has adjourned sine die or has adjourned for any period in excess of three calendar days, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate, if they deem it advisable (or if they are petitioned by at least 30 percent of the membership of their respective Houses) shall jointly request the President to convene the Congress in order that it may consider the report and take appropriate action pursuant to this section.(b)

Requirement for specific statutory authorization for continued involvement

(1)

In general

Within 30 calendar days after United States Forces are introduced into hostilities in accordance with paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of section 2(a), the President shall remove United States Forces from those hostilities unless the Congress—(A)has declared war;(B)has enacted a joint resolution providing specific authorization for such use of United States Forces as described in paragraph (2); or(C)is unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United States.

This 30-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional 15 days if the President determines and certifies to the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of United States Forces requires the continued use of United States Forces in the course of bringing about their prompt removal from hostilities.

(2)

Joint resolution described

A joint resolution providing specific authorization for such use of United States Forces described in this paragraph shall—(A)provide for authorization of the use of necessary and appropriate military force with respect to such use of United States Forces;(B)(i)clearly define the threat that necessitates use of such military force, the mission and objectives that use of such military force is authorized to achieve, and identify each foreign country in which such military force is authorized;(ii)clearly define the parameters for when use of such military force is no longer necessary or appropriate; and(iii)clearly and specifically identify each foreign country and organized armed group with respect to which such military force will be used;(C)require the President to seek from the Congress a subsequent specific statutory authorization for introduction of United States Forces into hostilities—(i)if—(I)the threat or mission or objectives defined in subparagraph (B)(i) or the list of foreign countries identified in such subparagraph is to be expanded;(II)the parameters defined in subparagraph (B)(ii) are to be expanded; or (III)the list of foreign countries or organized armed groups identified in subparagraph (B)(iii) is to be expanded; and(ii)which shall include updated information to the information required by subparagraph (B); and(D)provide for termination of the authorization for such use of United States Forces not later than the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of such authorization unless the Congress enacts a joint resolution providing a subsequent specific authorization for such use of United States Forces.(c)

Funding limitation

Unless one of the numbered paragraphs of subsection (b) applies, after the expiration of the period specified in that subsection (including any extension of that period in accordance with that subsection), funds appropriated or otherwise made available under any law may not be obligated or expended to continue the involvement of United States Forces in the hostilities. This subsection does not, however, prohibit the use of funds to remove United States Forces from hostilities.

Congressional expedited procedures

(a)

Resolutions subject to procedures

As used in this section, the term privileged resolution means a joint resolution—(1)that provides specific authorization for the use of United States Forces in hostilities, so long as that resolution contains only provisions which are relevant to those hostilities; and(2)that is introduced after the President has submitted a written request to the Congress for enactment of such an authorization with respect to those or related hostilities.(b)

Procedure in house of representatives

(1)This subsection applies to the consideration of a privileged resolution in the House of Representatives.(2)A privileged resolution introduced in the House of Representatives shall be referred, upon introduction, to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. A privileged resolution shall not be sequentially referred.(3)(A)If, at the end of 10 calendar days after the introduction of a privileged resolution, the Committee on Foreign Affairs has not reported that resolution, that committee shall be discharged from further consideration of that resolution and that resolution shall be considered a privileged resolution and placed on the appropriate calendar of the House.(B)After a privileged resolution has been placed on the appropriate calendar, no other resolution with respect to the same or related hostilities may be reported by or be discharged from any committee under this subsection while the first resolution—(i)is before the House of Representatives (including remaining on the calendar);(ii)is before the Senate (including remaining on the calendar) unless the Senate has had a vote on final passage with respect to the resolution and a majority of those voting did not vote in the affirmative;(iii)is before a committee of conference or otherwise awaiting disposition of amendments between the Houses; or(iv)is awaiting transmittal to the President or is before the President.(4)(A)(i)At any time after a privileged resolution has been placed on the appropriate calendar, it is in order for any Member of the House of Representatives to move that the House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of that resolution. The motion is highly privileged.(ii)The motion under clause (i) is in order even if a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to.(B)All points of order against a privileged resolution and consideration of the resolution are waived. If the motion under subparagraph (A) is agreed to, the privileged resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the House until disposed of, to the exclusion of all other business, except as provided in paragraph (5)(A). A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion described in subparagraph (A) is disagreed to is not in order.(C)General debate on a privileged resolution shall not exceed 4 hours, which shall be divided equally between a Member favoring and a Member opposing the resolution.(D)(i)At the conclusion of general debate, a privileged resolution shall be considered for amendment under the 5-minute rule.(ii)Debate on all amendments shall not exceed 12 hours. After the expiration of that period, no further amendments shall be in order.(iii)Except as provided in the next sentence, debate on each amendment, and any amendments thereto, shall not exceed one hour. If the Committee on Foreign Affairs reports an amendment in the nature of a substitute to the text of a privileged resolution, that amendment shall be considered to be original text for purposes of amendment and debate on each amendment to that amendment, and any amendments thereto, shall not exceed one hour.(E)At the conclusion of consideration of amendments to a privileged resolution, the Committee of the Whole shall rise and report the resolution back to the House, and the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution, with any amendments adopted in the Committee of the Whole, to final passage without intervening motion, except one motion to recommit with or without instructions.(5)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if, before the passage by the House of Representatives of a privileged resolution of the House, the House receives a privileged resolution from the Senate with respect to the same or related hostilities, then the following procedures shall apply:(i)The resolution of the Senate shall not be referred to a committee.(ii)With respect to the privileged resolution of the House—(I)the procedure in the House shall be the same as if no resolution had been received from the Senate; but(II)the vote on final passage shall be on the resolution of the Senate (if the resolutions are identical), or on the resolution of the Senate (if they are not identical) with the text of the resolution of the House inserted in lieu of the text of the resolution of the Senate; and the vote on final passage shall occur without debate or any intervening action.(iii)Upon disposition of a privileged resolution received from the Senate, consideration of the privileged resolution of the House shall no longer be privileged under this section.(B)If the House receives from the Senate a privileged resolution before any privileged resolution is introduced in the House with respect to the same or related hostilities, then the resolution of the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the procedures in the House with respect to that resolution shall be the same under this subsection as if the resolution received had been introduced in the House.(C)If the House receives from the Senate a privileged resolution after the House has disposed of an identical privileged resolution, it shall be in order to proceed by a highly privileged, nondebatable motion to consideration of the resolution of the Senate, and that resolution shall be disposed of without debate and without amendment.(6)A motion to disagree to amendments of the Senate to a privileged resolution of the House and request or agree to a conference with the Senate, or a motion to insist on the House amendments to a privileged resolution of the Senate and request or agree to a conference of the Senate, is highly privileged.(7)(A)If the conferees are unable to agree on resolving the differences between the two Houses with respect to a privileged resolution within 72 hours after the second House is notified that the first House has agreed to conference, they shall report back to their respective House in disagreement.(B)Notwithstanding any rule of the House of Representatives concerning the printing of conference reports in the Congressional Record or concerning any delay in the consideration of such reports, a conference report with respect to a privileged resolution, including a report filed in disagreement, shall be acted on in the House of Representatives not later than 2 session days after the first House files the report or, in the case of the House acting first, the report has been available for 2 hours. The conference report (and any amendment reported in disagreement) shall be deemed to have been read. Debate on such a conference report shall be limited to 3 hours, equally divided between, and controlled by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader (or their designees).(C)As used in subparagraph (B), the term session day means a day on which the House of Representatives convenes.(8)This subsection is enacted by the House of Representatives—(A)as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of Representatives, and as such it is deemed a part of the Rules of the House, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in the House in the case of a privileged resolution, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and(B)with full recognition of the constitutional right of the House to change its rules (so far as relating to the procedure of the House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of the House.(c)

Procedures in the senate

(1)This subsection applies to the consideration of a privileged resolution in the Senate.(2)For purposes of this subsection, the term session days means days on which the Senate is in session.(3)A privileged resolution introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.(4)(A)If the Committee on Foreign Relations has not reported a privileged resolution (or an identical resolution) at the end of 7 calendar days after the introduction of that resolution, that committee shall be discharged from further consideration of that resolution, and that resolution shall be placed on the appropriate calendar of the Senate.(B)After a committee reports or is discharged from a privileged resolution, no other resolution with respect to the same or related hostilities may be reported by or be discharged from such committee while the first resolution—(i)is before the Senate (including remaining on the calendar);(ii)is before the House of Representatives (including remaining on the calendar), unless the House has had a vote on final passage with respect to the resolution and a majority of those voting did not vote in the affirmative;(iii)is before a committee of conference or otherwise awaiting disposition of amendments between the Houses; or(iv)is awaiting transmittal to the President or is before the President.(5)(A)(i)When the committee to which a privileged resolution is referred has reported, or has been discharged under paragraph (4) from further consideration of that resolution, it is at any time thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) for any Member of the Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution, notwithstanding any rule or precedent of the Senate, including Rule 22. Except as provided in clause (ii) of this subparagraph or subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (insofar as it relates to germaneness and relevancy of amendments), all points of order against a privileged resolution and consideration of the resolution are waived. The motion is privileged and is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall be in order, except that such motion may not be entered for future disposition. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of a privileged resolution is agreed to, the resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate, to the exclusion of all other business, until disposed of, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (6)(A).(ii)Whenever a point of order is raised in the Senate against the privileged status of a resolution that has been laid before the Senate and been initially identified as privileged for consideration under this subsection upon its introduction, such point of order shall be submitted directly to the Senate. The point of order, The resolution is not privileged under the War Powers Resolution, shall be decided by the yeas and the nays after four hours of debate, equally divided between, and controlled by, the Member raising the point of order and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of such point of order, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee. Such point of order shall not be considered to establish precedent for determination of future cases.(B)(i)Consideration in the Senate of a privileged resolution, and all amendments and debatable motions in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 12 hours, which, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, shall be equally divided between, and controlled by, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, or by their designees. The Majority Leader or the Minority Leader or their designees may, from the time under their control on the resolution, allot additional time to any Senator during the consideration of any amendment, debatable motion, or appeal.(ii)Only amendments which are germane and relevant to a privileged resolution are in order.(iii)Debate on any amendment to a privileged resolution shall be limited to two hours, except that this limitation does not apply to an amendment in the nature of a substitute to the text of the resolution that is reported by the Committee on Foreign Relations. Debate on any amendment to an amendment shall be limited to 1 hour.(iv)The time of debate for each amendment shall be equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover of the amendment and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such amendment, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee.(v)One amendment by the Minority Leader is in order to be offered under a 1-hour time limitation immediately following the expiration of the 12-hour time limitation if the Minority Leader has had no opportunity prior thereto to offer an amendment to the privileged resolution. One amendment may be offered to the amendment of the Minority Leader under the preceding sentence, and debate shall be limited on such amendment to one-half hour which shall be equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover of the amendment and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such amendment, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee.(vi)A motion to postpone or a motion to recommit a privileged resolution is not in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which a privileged resolution is agreed to or disagreed to is in order, except that such motion may not be entered for future disposition, and debate on such motion shall be limited to 1 hour.(C)Whenever all the time for debate on a privileged resolution has been used or yielded back, no further amendments may be proposed, except as provided in subparagraph (B)(iii), and the vote on the adoption of the resolution shall occur without any intervening motion or amendment, except that a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the Rules of the Senate may occur immediately before such vote.(D)Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the Rules of the Senate to the procedure relating to a privileged resolution shall be limited to one-half hour of debate, equally divided between, and controlled by, the Member making the appeal and the manager of the resolution, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such appeal, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee.(6)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if, before the passage by the Senate of a privileged resolution of the Senate, the Senate receives a privileged resolution from the House of Representatives with respect to the same or related hostilities, then the following procedures shall apply:(i)The privileged resolution of the House of Representatives shall not be referred to a committee.(ii)With respect to the privileged resolution of the Senate—(I)the procedure in the Senate shall be the same as if no resolution had been received from the House of Representatives; but(II)the resolution of the House of Representatives shall be considered to have been read for the third time; the vote on final passage shall be on the resolution of the House of Representatives (if such resolutions are identical) or on the resolution of the House of Representatives (if not identical), with the text of the resolution of the Senate inserted in lieu of the text of the resolution of the House of Representatives; and such vote on final passage shall occur without debate or any intervening action.(iii)Upon disposition of a privileged resolution received from the House of Representatives, it shall no longer be in order to consider the resolution originated in the Senate.(B)If the Senate receives a privileged resolution from the House of Representatives before any privileged resolution is introduced in the Senate with respect to the same or related hostilities, then the resolution received shall be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the procedures in the Senate with respect to that resolution shall be the same under this section as if the resolution received had been introduced in the Senate.(7)If the Senate receives a privileged resolution from the House of Representatives after the Senate has disposed of an identical privileged resolution, it shall be in order to proceed by nondebatable motion to consideration of the resolution received by the Senate, and that resolution shall be disposed of without debate and without amendment.(8)(A)(i)The time for debate in the Senate on all motions required for the disposition of amendments between the Houses shall not exceed 2 hours, equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover of the motion and the manager of the resolution at each stage of the proceedings between the two Houses, except that in the event the manager is in favor of any such motion, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the Minority Leader or his designee. In the case of any disagreement between the two Houses of Congress with respect to a privileged resolution which is not resolved, any Senator may make any motion or motions referred to in this clause within 2 session days after action by the second House or before the appointment of conferees, whichever comes first.(ii)In the event the conferees are unable to agree within 72 hours after the second House is notified that the first House has agreed to conference, they shall report back to their respective House in disagreement.(iii)Notwithstanding any rule in the Senate concerning the printing of conference reports in the Congressional Record or concerning any delay in the consideration of such reports, such report, including a report filed or returned in disagreement, shall be acted on in the Senate not later than 2 session days after the first House files the report or, in the case of the Senate acting first, the report is first made available on the desks of the Senators. Debate in the Senate on a conference report or a report filed or returned in disagreement on any such resolution shall be limited to 3 hours, equally divided between, and controlled by, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, and their designees.(B)If a privileged resolution is vetoed by the President, the time for debate in consideration of the veto message on such measure shall be limited to 20 hours in the Senate, equally divided between, and controlled by, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, and their designees.(9)This subsection is enacted by the Senate—(A)as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate, as such it is deemed a part of the Rules of the Senate but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in the Senate in the case of a privileged resolution, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and(B)with full recognition of the constitutional right of the Senate to change its rules (so far as relating to the procedure of the Senate) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of the Senate.

Judicial review

(a)

Standing of members of Congress

Any Member of Congress may bring an action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief on the ground that the President or United States Forces have not complied with any provision of this joint resolution.(b)

Justiciability

In any action described in subsection (a), the court shall not decline to make a determination on the merits on the ground that the issue of compliance is a political question or is otherwise nonjusticiable.(c)

Congressional intent

Notwithstanding the number, position, or party affiliation of any plaintiffs in an action described in subsection (a), it is the intent of the Congress that the court—(1)infer congressional disapproval of the involvement of United States Forces in hostilities; and(2)find that an impasse exists between the Congress and the executive branch which requires judicial resolution.(d)

Expedited consideration

Any court in which an action described in subsection (a) is heard shall accord such action the highest priority and shall announce its judgment as speedily as the requirements of article III of the Constitution permit.(e)

Judicial remedy

(1)If the court in an action described in subsection (a) finds that the President has failed to submit a report required by section 4(a) of this joint resolution, the court shall—(A)direct the President to submit that report; and(B)specify the date on which United States Forces were introduced into hostilities.(2)If the court in an action described in subsection (a) finds that section 2 or section 5(b) of this joint resolution has been violated, the court shall direct the President to remove United States Forces from the hostilities. United States Forces shall be removed pursuant to the court’s order—(A)immediately; or(B)if the President determines and certifies to the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of United States Forces requires the continued use of United States Forces in the course of bringing about their prompt removal from hostilities, within a period not to exceed 30 days after the order is issued.(f)

Appeals

Any judgment in an action described in subsection (a) shall be directly appealable to the United States Supreme Court.

Rules of interpretation

(a)

Other statutes and treaties

Authority to introduce United States Forces into hostilities shall not be inferred—(1)from any provision of law (including any provision in effect before the date of enactment of this joint resolution), including any provision contained in any appropriation Act, unless that provision specifically authorizes the introduction of United States Forces into hostilities and states that it is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of this joint resolution; or(2)from any treaty heretofore or hereafter ratified unless that treaty is implemented by legislation specifically authorizing the introduction of United States Forces into hostilities and stating that it is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of this joint resolution.(b)

Congressional action or inaction

The failure of the Congress to adopt a measure—(1)terminating, limiting, or prohibiting the involvement of United States Forces in hostilities; or(2)finding that the President or United States Forces are acting in violation of this joint resolution,

may not be construed as indicating congressional authorization or approval of, or acquiescence in, the involvement of United States Forces in any hostilities or as a finding by the Congress that such involvement is consistent with this joint resolution.

Definitions

For purposes of this joint resolution, the following definitions apply:(1)

Hostilities

The term hostilities includes any situation involving any use of direct or indirect, lethal or potentially lethal force by United States Forces against regular or irregular military forces or against any military or civilian target, irrespective of the domain, including armed conflict, intelligence sharing, mid-air refueling, cyber attacks, targeting assistance, acts that violate the sovereignty of a foreign country, and purposeful destruction of property considered to be an exercise of use of force, irrespective of whether such force is offensive or defensive, kinetic or non-kinetic, or deployed remotely, the intermittency, intensity, or severity of such force, the scope of the mission or objectives, or the extent to which the mission exposes United States Forces to risk of casualty or the risk of escalation.(2)

Imminent

The term imminent, with respect to a threat of an attack, means the threat is instant, overwhelming, and leaves no choice of means and no moment for deliberation. (3)

Introduce

The term introduce includes—(A)any commitment, engagement, deployment, or other involvement of United States Forces in hostilities, including the taking of self-defense measures by United States Forces in response to an attack, threatened attack, or imminent threat of attack in any foreign country, irrespective of whether United States Forces are present or operating launched, piloted, or other remotely directed weapons systems from a non-battlefield location; and(B)the assigning or detailing of members of United States Forces to command, coordinate, advise, assist, participate in the movement of, accompany, provide intelligence, or provide logistical or material support or training for any foreign regular or irregular military or police forces, including state actors or organized armed groups, if those forces are involved in hostilities (regardless of whether those hostilities involve insurgent forces of the military forces of a foreign country).(4)

Training

The term training has the meaning given the term military education and training in section 644 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2403), but does not include training that is comprised entirely of observance of and respect for the law of armed conflict, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, or civilian control of the military.(5)

United states; country

The terms United States and foreign country, when used in a geographic sense—(A)mean the territory, airspace, or waters of the United States or the foreign country; and(B)includes territories and possessions.(6)

United States Forces

The term United States Forces—(A)means the armed forces (as such term is defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code) and includes persons employed by, or under contract to, or under the direction of any department or agency of the United States Government; and(B)includes capabilities established, directed, or otherwise used by such armed forces or persons that produces or results in an effect or condition designed to accomplish a military objective.

10.

Separability clause

If any provision of this joint resolution or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the joint resolution and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.