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. OCASIOCORTEZ, Mr. HIMES, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. BEYER, 

Ms. SPANBERGER, Mr. PHILLIPS, and Mr. CISNEROS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 

in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently 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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No War Against Iran 

3 Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF UNAUTHORIZED MILITARY FORCE 

5 IN OR AGAINST IRAN. 

6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

7 (1) The acquisition by the Government of Iran 

8 of a nuclear weapon would pose a grave threat to 

9 international peace and stability and the national se10 curity of the United States and United States allies, 

11 including Israel. 

12 (2) The Government of Iran is a leading state 

13 sponsor of terrorism, continues to materially support 

14 the regime of Bashar al-Assad, and is responsible 

15 for ongoing gross violations of the human rights of 

16 the people of Iran. 

17 (3) Article I of the United States Constitution 

18 requires the President to obtain authorization from 

19 Congress before engaging in war with Iran. 

20 (b) CLARIFICATION OF CURRENT LAW.—Nothing in 

21 the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 

22 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note), the Authorization for Use 

23 of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public 

24 Law 107–243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note), or any other provi25 sion of law enacted before the date of the enactment of 


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1 this Act may be construed to provide authorization for the 

2 use of military force against Iran. 

3 (c) PROHIBITION OF UNAUTHORIZED MILITARY

4 FORCE IN OR AGAINST IRAN.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para6 graph (2), no Federal funds may be obligated or ex7 pended for any use of military force in or against 

8 Iran unless Congress has— 

9 (A) declared war; or 

10 (B) enacted specific statutory authoriza11 tion for such use of military force after the date 

12 of the enactment of this Act that meets the re13 quirements of the War Powers Resolution (50 

14 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.). 

15 (2) EXCEPTION.—The prohibition under para16 graph (1) shall not apply to a use of military force 

17 that is consistent with section (2)(c) of the War 

18 Powers Resolution. 

19 (d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 

20 may be construed— 

21 (1) to prevent the President from using nec22 essary and appropriate force to defend United States 

23 allies and partners if Congress enacts specific statu24 tory authorization for such use of force consistent 


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1 with the requirements of the War Powers Resolution 

2 (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); 

3 (2) to relieve the executive branch of restric4 tions on the use of force, reporting, or consultation 

5 requirements set forth in the War Powers Resolution 

6 (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); or 

7 (3) to authorize the use of military force. 

Æ 


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