A concurrent resolution directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 33 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hos- tilities in or against Iran. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JANUARY 9, 2020 Mr. UDALL submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran. Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 1 concurring), 2 SECTION 1. TERMINATION OF USE OF UNITED STATES 3 ARMED FORCES TO ENGAGE IN HOSTILITIES 4 IN OR AGAINST IRAN. 5 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find- 6 ings: 7 (1) The Government of Iran is a leading state 8 sponsor of terrorism and engages in a range of de- 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Jan 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SC33.IS SC33 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SCON 33 IS stabilizing activities across the Middle East. Iranian 1 General Qassem Soleimani was the lead architect of 2 much of Iran’s destabilizing activities throughout the 3 world. 4 (2) The United States has an inherent right to 5 self-defense against imminent armed attacks. The 6 United States maintains the right to ensure the 7 safety of diplomatic personnel serving abroad. 8 (3) In matters of imminent armed attacks, the 9 executive branch should indicate to Congress why 10 military action was necessary within a certain win- 11 dow of opportunity, the possible harm that missing 12 the window would cause, and why the action was 13 likely to prevent future disastrous attacks against 14 the United States. 15 (4) The United States has national interests in 16 preserving its partnership with Iraq and other coun- 17 tries in the region, including by— 18 (A) combating terrorists, including the Is- 19 lamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); 20 (B) preventing Iran from achieving a nu- 21 clear weapons capability; and 22 (C) supporting the people of Iraq, Iran, 23 and other countries throughout the Middle East 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Jan 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SC33.IS SC33 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SCON 33 IS who demand an end to government corruption 1 and violations of basic human rights. 2 (5) Over the past eight months, in response to 3 rising tensions with Iran, the United States has in- 4 troduced over 15,000 additional forces into the Mid- 5 dle East. 6 (6) When the United States uses military force, 7 the American people and members of the United 8 States Armed Forces deserve a credible explanation 9 regarding such use of military force. 10 (7) The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 11 1541 et seq.) requires the President to consult with 12 Congress ‘‘in every possible instance’’ before intro- 13 ducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities. 14 (8) Congress has not authorized the President 15 to use military force against Iran. 16 (b) TERMINATION.—Pursuant to section 5(c) of the 17 War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress 18 hereby directs the President to terminate the use of 19 United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or 20 against Iran or any part of its government or military, 21 unless— 22 (1) Congress has declared war or enacted spe- 23 cific statutory authorization for such use of the 24 Armed Forces; or 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Jan 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SC33.IS SC33 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SCON 33 IS (2) such use of the Armed Forces is necessary 1 and appropriate to defend against an imminent 2 armed attack upon the United States, its territories 3 or possessions, or its Armed Forces, consistent with 4 the requirements of the War Powers Resolution. 5 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec- 6 tion may be construed— 7 (1) to prevent the President from using military 8 force against al Qaeda or associated forces; 9 (2) to limit the obligations of the executive 10 branch set forth in the War Powers Resolution (50 11 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); 12 (3) to affect the provisions of an Act or joint 13 resolution of Congress specifically authorizing the 14 use of United States Armed Forces to engage in 15 hostilities against Iran or any part of its government 16 or military that is enacted after the date of the 17 adoption of this concurrent resolution; 18 (4) to prevent the use of necessary and appro- 19 priate military force to defend United States allies 20 and partners if authorized by Congress consistent 21 with the requirements of the War Powers Resolu- 22 tion; or 23 (5) to authorize the use of military force. 24 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 Jan 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SC33.IS SC33 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS