[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 200 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 200

 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

                             July 13, 2026

 Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Kim, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Merkley, 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, its territories, its 
        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''.
            (5) The President did not terminate the use of United 
        States Armed Forces following 60 days as required under section 
        5(b) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)), withdraw 
        forces from the region, or seek the 30-day extension to 
        accomplish a safe withdrawal provided for by that statute.
            (6) On June 17, 2026, President Donald J. Trump signed a 
        memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Republic of Iran 
        as a framework to negotiate a final termination of the war 
        between the two countries. Since then, the United States and 
        Iran have continued to exchange fire, including Iranian strikes 
        against ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian strikes 
        against United States military installations within partner 
        nations in the region, and multiple waves of United States 
        strikes against hundreds of Iranian targets since July 7, 2026.
            (7) On June 3, 2026, the House of Representatives passed on 
        a bipartisan basis House Concurrent Resolution 86, 119th 
        Congress, directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of 
        the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), to remove United 
        States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, which the 
        Senate passed on a bipartisan basis on June 23, 2026.
            (8) The use of military force within or against Iran since 
        February 28, 2026, and continuing to the date of introduction 
        of this resolution 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) 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 from imminent engagement 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 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 section 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.
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