No War Against Iran Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 5543 To prohibit the use of funds for unauthorized military force against Iran, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 7, 2020 Mr. KHANNA (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. CROW, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. LEVIN of Michigan, Mr. TED LIEU of California, Ms. HAALAND, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. POCAN, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. GARAMENDI, Ms. OMAR, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. DOGGETT, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. NORTON, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. TONKO, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. MOORE, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. EVANS, Mr. WELCH, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. OCASIO- CORTEZ, Mr. HIMES, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. BEYER, Ms. SPANBERGER, Mr. PHILLIPS, and Mr. CISNEROS) introduced the fol- lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subse- quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To prohibit the use of funds for unauthorized military force against Iran, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:11 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5543.IH H5543 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 5543 IH SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No War Against Iran 2 Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF UNAUTHORIZED MILITARY FORCE 4 IN OR AGAINST IRAN. 5 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 6 (1) The acquisition by the Government of Iran 7 of a nuclear weapon would pose a grave threat to 8 international peace and stability and the national se- 9 curity of the United States and United States allies, 10 including Israel. 11 (2) The Government of Iran is a leading state 12 sponsor of terrorism, continues to materially support 13 the regime of Bashar al-Assad, and is responsible 14 for ongoing gross violations of the human rights of 15 the people of Iran. 16 (3) Article I of the United States Constitution 17 requires the President to obtain authorization from 18 Congress before engaging in war with Iran. 19 (b) CLARIFICATION OF CURRENT LAW.—Nothing in 20 the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 21 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note), the Authorization for Use 22 of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public 23 Law 107–243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note), or any other provi- 24 sion of law enacted before the date of the enactment of 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:11 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5543.IH H5543 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 5543 IH this Act may be construed to provide authorization for the 1 use of military force against Iran. 2 (c) PROHIBITION OF UNAUTHORIZED MILITARY 3 FORCE IN OR AGAINST IRAN.— 4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para- 5 graph (2), no Federal funds may be obligated or ex- 6 pended for any use of military force in or against 7 Iran unless Congress has— 8 (A) declared war; or 9 (B) enacted specific statutory authoriza- 10 tion for such use of military force after the date 11 of the enactment of this Act that meets the re- 12 quirements of the War Powers Resolution (50 13 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.). 14 (2) EXCEPTION.—The prohibition under para- 15 graph (1) shall not apply to a use of military force 16 that is consistent with section (2)(c) of the War 17 Powers Resolution. 18 (d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 19 may be construed— 20 (1) to prevent the President from using nec- 21 essary and appropriate force to defend United States 22 allies and partners if Congress enacts specific statu- 23 tory authorization for such use of force consistent 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:11 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5543.IH H5543 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 5543 IH with the requirements of the War Powers Resolution 1 (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); 2 (2) to relieve the executive branch of restric- 3 tions on the use of force, reporting, or consultation 4 requirements set forth in the War Powers Resolution 5 (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); or 6 (3) to authorize the use of military force. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:11 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H5543.IH H5543 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS