[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 191 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. J. RES. 191
To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities
within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been
authorized by Congress.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 30, 2026
Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Booker, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Schiff,
Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following joint
resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities
within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been
authorized by Congress.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under
article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States
Constitution.
(2) The President has a constitutional responsibility to
take actions to defend the United States and its territories,
possessions, citizens, servicemembers, and diplomats from
attack.
(3) Congress has not declared war upon Iran or any person
or organization within Iran, nor enacted a specific statutory
authorization for the use of military force within or against
Iran.
(4) On February 28, 2026, President Donald J. Trump
declared the start of ``major combat operations in Iran'', and
by early March 2026, the United States had deployed more than
50,000 members of the United States Armed Forces to the region
to support the war.
(5) Following the initiation of combat operations, Iran
conducted retaliatory drone and ballistic missiles strikes
against hundreds of targets, including United States embassies,
consulates, and military bases, across Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq,
Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the
United Arab Emirates. 13 American servicemembers have been
killed.
(6) On March 2, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC) effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels,
resulting in a precipitous drop in maritime traffic, widespread
energy shortages, and worldwide economic disruption.
(7) On April 12, 2026, President Trump ordered a complete
naval blockade of Iranian ports.
(8) The use of military force within or against Iran
constitutes the introduction of United States Armed Forces into
hostilities within the meaning of section 4(a) of the War
Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)).
(9) Pursuant to the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541
et seq.), the President must terminate any use of United States
Armed Forces within 60 days of providing initial notification
to Congress, unless Congress has ``declared war or has enacted
a specific authorization for such use of United States Armed
Forces,'' has ``extended by law such 60-day period,'' or ``is
physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon
the United States,'' none of which has occurred with respect to
the current hostilities in and against Iran.
(10) The 60-day period following the President's
notification to Congress on March 2, 2026, ends on May 1, 2026.
(11) Under the War Powers Resolution, the President may
extend the presence of the Armed Forces for ``not more than an
additional 30 days if the President determines and certifies to
the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity
respecting the safety of United States Armed Forces requires
the continued use of such armed forces in the course of
bringing about a prompt removal of such forces''.
(12) The purpose of the War Powers Resolution, as stated in
section 2(a) of such resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541(a)), is to
``insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and
the President will apply to the introduction of United States
Armed Forces into hostilities''.
(13) Section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization
Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a) provides that
any joint resolution or bill requiring the removal of United
States Armed Forces engaged in hostilities without a
declaration of war or specific statutory authorization shall be
considered in accordance with the expedited procedures under
section 601(b) of the International Security and Arms Export
Control Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-329).
SEC. 2. REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES WITHIN
OR AGAINST THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN.
(a) Removal.--Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of State
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a), and in
accordance with section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance
and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-329), Congress
hereby directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces
from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized
by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military
force.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this resolution may be
construed to prevent the United States from--
(1) defending against an attack on the United States or its
personnel or facilities in other nations;
(2) collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence,
including with partner countries and international
organizations as appropriate, related to threats from Iran or
its proxies;
(3) assisting partner countries who have been attacked by
Iran since February 28, 2026, and other nations--
(A) in taking defensive measures to protect their
territory from retaliatory attacks by Iran or its
proxies; or
(B) by providing defensive materiel support for
such defensive measures; or
(4) providing assistance for the security, departure, and
evacuation to United States citizens affected by the
hostilities.
<all>