I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3709 

To amend the War Powers Resolution to limit the use of funds for 

introduction of the Armed Forces into hostilities, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 16, 2011 

Mr. GIBSON (for himself, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. BENISHEK, Mr. BROOKS, Mr. 

BURTON of Indiana, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, 

Ms. FOXX, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. 

LANKFORD, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. MULVANEY, 

Mr. NUGENT, Mr. PENCE, Mr. REED, Mr. RIBBLE, Mr. ROONEY, Mr. 

ROSS of Florida, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. 

SMITH of New Jersey, and Mr. STIVERS) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 

to the Committee on Rules, 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 amend the War Powers Resolution to limit the use of 

funds for introduction of the Armed Forces into hostilities, 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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘War Powers Reform 

5 Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. PURPOSE AND POLICY. 

2 Section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 

3 U.S.C. 1541(c)) is amended— 

4 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 

5 striking ‘‘are exercised’’ and inserting ‘‘may be exer6 cised’’; and 

7 (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting after ‘‘at8 tack’’ the following: ‘‘or imminent threat of attack’’. 

9 SEC. 3. CONSULTATION AND REPORTING. 

10 Section 3 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 

11 1542) is amended— 

12 (1) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘AND REPORT13 ING’’ after ‘‘CONSULTATION’’; 

14 (2) by striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting 

15 the following: 

16 ‘‘(a) CONSULTATION.—The President’’; and 

17 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(b) REPORTING.—The President in every possible 

19 instance shall submit to Congress before introducing 

20 United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situa21 tions where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly 

22 indicated by the circumstances a report, in writing, setting 

23 forth the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities 

24 or involvement.’’. 


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1 SEC. 4. REPORTING. 

2 Section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution (50 

3 U.S.C. 1543(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or a specific 

4 statutory authorization’’ after ‘‘a declaration of war’’. 

5 SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR INTRODUCTION 

6 OF ARMED FORCES INTO HOSTILITIES. 

7 The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.) 

8 is amended— 

9 (1) by striking sections 5, 6, and 7; 

10 (2) by redesignating sections 8, 9, and 10 as 

11 sections 6, 7, and 8, respectively; and 

12 (3) by inserting after section 4 the following: 

13 ‘‘LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS

14 ‘‘SEC. 5. (a) No funds available for the United States 

15 Armed Forces may be obligated or expended for introduc16 tion of the Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations 

17 where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indi18 cated by the circumstances, in the absence of a declaration 

19 of war, specific statutory authorization, or a national 

20 emergency created by an attack or imminent threat of at21 tack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, 

22 or the Armed Forces. 

23 ‘‘(b) It shall not be in order in the House of Rep24 resentatives or the Senate to consider any bill or joint resVerDate Mar 15 2010 20:26 Dec 23, 2011 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3709.IH H3709

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1 olution that would make funds available in violation of 

2 subsection (a).’’. 

Æ 


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