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 H. CON. RES. 83 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JANUARY 13, 2020 Received; read twice and 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 House of Representatives (the Senate 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Jan 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC83.RFS HC83 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 HCON 83 RFS (1) The Government of Iran is a leading state 1 sponsor of terrorism and engages in a range of de- 2 stabilizing activities across the Middle East. Iranian 3 General Qassem Soleimani was the lead architect of 4 much of Iran’s destabilizing activities throughout the 5 world. 6 (2) The United States has an inherent right to 7 self-defense against imminent armed attacks. The 8 United States maintains the right to ensure the 9 safety of diplomatic personnel serving abroad. 10 (3) In matters of imminent armed attacks, the 11 executive branch should indicate to Congress why 12 military action was necessary within a certain win- 13 dow of opportunity, the possible harm that missing 14 the window would cause, and why the action was 15 likely to prevent future disastrous attacks against 16 the United States. 17 (4) The United States has national interests in 18 preserving its partnership with Iraq and other coun- 19 tries in the region, including by— 20 (A) combating terrorists, including the Is- 21 lamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); 22 (B) preventing Iran from achieving a nu- 23 clear weapons capability; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Jan 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC83.RFS HC83 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 HCON 83 RFS (C) supporting the people of Iraq, Iran, 1 and other countries throughout the Middle East 2 who demand an end to government corruption 3 and violations of basic human rights. 4 (5) Over the past eight months, in response to 5 rising tensions with Iran, the United States has in- 6 troduced over 15,000 additional forces into the Mid- 7 dle East. 8 (6) When the United States uses military force, 9 the American people and members of the United 10 States Armed Forces deserve a credible explanation 11 regarding such use of military force. 12 (7) The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 13 1541 et seq.) requires the President to consult with 14 Congress ‘‘in every possible instance’’ before intro- 15 ducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities. 16 (8) Congress has not authorized the President 17 to use military force against Iran. 18 (b) TERMINATION.—Pursuant to section 5(c) of the 19 War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress 20 hereby directs the President to terminate the use of 21 United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or 22 against Iran or any part of its government or military, 23 unless— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Jan 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC83.RFS HC83 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 HCON 83 RFS (1) Congress has declared war or enacted spe- 1 cific statutory authorization for such use of the 2 Armed Forces; or 3 (2) such use of the Armed Forces is necessary 4 and appropriate to defend against an imminent 5 armed attack upon the United States, its territories 6 or possessions, or its Armed Forces, consistent with 7 the requirements of the War Powers Resolution. 8 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec- 9 tion may be construed— 10 (1) to prevent the President from using military 11 force against al Qaeda or associated forces; 12 (2) to limit the obligations of the executive 13 branch set forth in the War Powers Resolution (50 14 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); 15 (3) to affect the provisions of an Act or joint 16 resolution of Congress specifically authorizing the 17 use of United States Armed Forces to engage in 18 hostilities against Iran or any part of its government 19 or military that is enacted after the date of the 20 adoption of this concurrent resolution; 21 (4) to prevent the use of necessary and appro- 22 priate military force to defend United States allies 23 and partners if authorized by Congress consistent 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Jan 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC83.RFS HC83 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 HCON 83 RFS with the requirements of the War Powers Resolu- 1 tion; or 2 (5) to authorize the use of military force. 3 Passed the House of Representatives January 9, 2020. Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, Clerk. VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Jan 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC83.RFS HC83 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS