IIA 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. J. RES. 59 

To authorize the use of military force against the Taliban, al Qaeda, the 

Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and designated associated forces, and 

to provide an updated, transparent, and sustainable statutory basis for 

counterterrorism operations. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 16, 2018 

Mr. CORKER (for himself, Mr. KAINE, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. COONS, Mr. YOUNG, 

and Mr. NELSON) introduced the following joint resolution; which was 

read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

To authorize the use of military force against the Taliban, 

al Qaeda, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and designated associated forces, and to provide an updated, 

transparent, and sustainable statutory basis for counterterrorism operations. 

Whereas, since the enactment of the Authorization for Use of 

Military Force (Public Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 

note) in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, 

the nature of the ongoing armed conflict against al 

Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces has evolved to 

include numerous non-state terrorist groups, including 

the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), that pose a 

grave threat to the United States; 


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Whereas it is appropriate for Congress to reaffirm the domestic legal basis for this ongoing conflict and the commitment of the political branches to victory, and to reassert 

the role of Congress in authorizing and conducting oversight of the use of military force; and 

Whereas Congress supports the ultimate goal of the Administration’s South Asia strategy, including a political settlement between the Government of Afghanistan and the 

Taliban that rejects terrorism, protects United States national interests, is in accordance with the Afghan constitution, and defends the rights of women and girls: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This joint resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Authoriza5 tion for Use of Military Force of 2018’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

7 The purposes of this joint resolution are as follows: 

8 (1) To reaffirm that Congress, the President, 

9 and the American people stand united in their re10 solve to defeat the Taliban, al Qaeda, ISIS, and des11 ignated associated forces, and to express support for 

12 the United States Armed Forces and other United 

13 States personnel in this continuing armed conflict. 

14 (2) To replace the Authorization for Use of 

15 Military Force (Public Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 

16 note) with an updated authorization that— 


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1 (A) provides uninterrupted authority to 

2 use all necessary and appropriate force in the 

3 current and continuing armed conflict against 

4 the Taliban, al Qaeda, ISIS, and associated 

5 forces; 

6 (B) establishes rigorous congressional over7 sight and improves transparency; and 

8 (C) provides for regular congressional re9 view and debate of the authorization provided 

10 by this joint resolution. 

11 (3) To repeal the Authorization for Use of Mili12 tary Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public 

13 Law 107–243; 116 Stat. 1498; 50 U.S.C. 1541 

14 note). 

15 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES 

16 ARMED FORCES. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President is authorized to 

18 use all necessary and appropriate force against— 

19 (1) the Taliban, al Qaeda, and the Islamic 

20 State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS); and 

21 (2) associated forces designated pursuant to 

22 section 5. 

23 (b) WAR POWERS RESOLUTION.— 

24 (1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION.— 

25 Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers 


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1 Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1547(a)(1)), Congress de2 clares that this section is intended to constitute spe3 cific statutory authorization within the meaning of 

4 section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution (50 

5 U.S.C. 1544(b)). 

6 (2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIRE7 MENTS.—Nothing in this resolution supersedes any 

8 requirement of the War Powers Resolution (50 

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

10 SEC. 4. QUADRENNIAL REVIEW OF THE AUTHORIZATION 

11 FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE. 

12 (a) PRESIDENTIAL SUBMISSION.—On January 20, 

13 2022, and again every 4 years thereafter, the President 

14 shall submit to Congress a report regarding the use of 

15 military force pursuant to this joint resolution, which shall 

16 include a proposal to repeal, modify, or leave in place this 

17 joint resolution. 

18 (b) EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL RECONSIDER19 ATION.—During the 60-calendar day period beginning on 

20 January 20, 2022, and again every 4 years thereafter, a 

21 qualifying resolution to repeal or modify this joint resolu22 tion shall be entitled to expedited consideration pursuant 

23 to section 9 of this joint resolution. 

24 SEC. 5. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. 

25 (a) ASSOCIATED FORCES.— 


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1 (1) EXISTING ASSOCIATED FORCES.—The fol2 lowing organizations, persons, or forces are des3 ignated associated forces covered by the authoriza4 tion for use of military force provided by section 

5 3(a) of this joint resolution: 

6 (A) Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. 

7 (B) Al Shabaab. 

8 (C) Al Qaeda in Syria (including Al 

9 Nusrah Front). 

10 (D) The Haqqani Network. 

11 (E) Al Qaeda in the Islamic Mahgreb 

12 (AQIM). 

13 (2) DESIGNATION.—Not later than 30 calendar 

14 days after the date of the enactment of this joint 

15 resolution, the President shall designate all organiza16 tions, persons, or forces other than those listed in 

17 paragraph (1) that the President has determined are 

18 associated forces covered by the authorization for 

19 use of military force provided by section 3(a) of this 

20 joint resolution by submitting to the appropriate 

21 congressional committees and leadership a report 

22 listing all such associated forces. 

23 (3) NEW ASSOCIATED FORCE.—Not later than 

24 48 hours after the President determines that a new 

25 organization, person, or force is an associated force 


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1 covered by the authorization for use of military force 

2 provided by section 3(a) of this joint resolution, the 

3 President shall designate such organization, person, 

4 or force as an associated force by submitting a re5 port to the appropriate congressional committees 

6 and leadership. 

7 (4) REPORT.—Each report required by para8 graph (2) or (3) shall contain detailed information 

9 providing the basis for the designation of each asso10 ciated force, including classified information relating 

11 thereto. 

12 (5) CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.—During the 60- 

13 calendar day period following the submission of any 

14 report pursuant to this subsection that designates a 

15 new organization, person, or force as an associated 

16 force (other than the associated forces identified in 

17 paragraph (1)), a qualifying resolution to amend this 

18 joint resolution to remove the authorization to use 

19 military force against such associated force shall be 

20 entitled to expedited procedures pursuant to section 

21 9 of this joint resolution. 

22 (b) GEOGRAPHY.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.— 

24 (A) INITIAL LIST.—Not later than 30 cal25 endar days after the date of the enactment of 


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1 this joint resolution, the President shall submit 

2 to the appropriate congressional committees 

3 and leadership a report detailing all foreign 

4 countries in which the United States is using 

5 military force pursuant to this joint resolution, 

6 including a detailed description of the military 

7 objectives and the organizations, persons, or 

8 forces targeted. 

9 (B) NEW FOREIGN COUNTRIES.—Not later 

10 than 48 hours after the use of military force in 

11 a new foreign country pursuant to this joint 

12 resolution, the President shall submit an up13 dated report required by this paragraph and 

14 consult with the appropriate congressional com15 mittees and leadership. Authorization for use of 

16 military force pursuant to this joint resolution 

17 in a new foreign country is contingent upon the 

18 reporting to Congress pursuant to this para19 graph. 

20 (C) NEW FOREIGN COUNTRY DEFINED.— 

21 In this resolution, the term ‘‘new foreign coun22 try’’ means a foreign country other than Af23 ghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, or 

24 Libya not previously reported to Congress pur25 suant to this paragraph. 


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1 (2) CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.—During the 60- 

2 calendar day period following the submission of any 

3 report pursuant to this subsection that identifies a 

4 new foreign country in which the United States is 

5 using military force pursuant to this joint resolution, 

6 a qualifying resolution to amend this joint resolution 

7 to remove the authorization to use military force in 

8 such foreign country shall be entitled to expedited 

9 procedures pursuant to section 9 of this joint resolu10 tion. 

11 (c) FORM OF REPORTS.—The reports required by 

12 this section may be submitted in a consolidated report, 

13 as appropriate, and shall be provided in unclassified form 

14 but may include a classified annex. 

15 SEC. 6. REPEAL OF 2001 AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILI16 TARY FORCE AND UNINTERRUPTED AUTHOR17 ITY. 

18 (a) REPEAL.—The Authorization for Use of Military 

19 Force (Public Law 107–40; 115 Stat. 224; 50 U.S.C. 

20 1541 note) is hereby repealed, effective 120 calendar days 

21 after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution. 

22 (b) UNINTERRUPTED AUTHORITY.—This joint reso23 lution provides uninterrupted authority for ongoing mili24 tary operations conducted pursuant to the Authorization 

25 for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40; 115 Stat. 


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1 224; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) as of the date of the enactment 

2 of this joint resolution. Subsection (a) shall not be con3 strued otherwise. 

4 SEC. 7. REPEAL OF 2002 AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILI5 TARY FORCE. 

6 The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against 

7 Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 116 Stat. 

8 1498; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed, effective 

9 120 calendar days after the date of the enactment of this 

10 joint resolution. 

11 SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 

12 In this joint resolution— 

13 (1) the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com14 mittees and leadership’’ means— 

15 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

16 the Committee on Armed Services, the Select 

17 Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee 

18 on Appropriations of the Senate; 

19 (B) the Majority and Minority Leaders of 

20 the Senate; 

21 (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

22 Committee on Armed Services, the Permanent 

23 Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Com24 mittee on Appropriations of the House of Rep25 resentatives; and 


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1 (D) the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and 

2 the Minority Leader of the House of Represent3 atives; 

4 (2) the term ‘‘associated forces’’ means any or5 ganization, person, or force, other than a sovereign 

6 nation, that the President determines has entered 

7 the fight alongside and is a co-belligerent with al 

8 Qaeda, the Taliban, or ISIS, in hostilities against 

9 the United States or its coalition partners, or that 

10 has been a part of al Qaeda, the Taliban, ISIS, or 

11 an associated force designated pursuant to this au12 thorization and is engaged in hostilities against the 

13 United States or its coalition partners; and 

14 (3) the term ‘‘coalition partner’’ has the mean15 ing given that term in section 948a of title 10, 

16 United States Code, and for the purposes of such 

17 definition the ‘‘hostilities engaged in by the United 

18 States’’ are hostilities against al Qaeda, the Taliban, 

19 ISIS, or an associated force designated pursuant to 

20 this authorization. 

21 SEC. 9. EXPEDITED PROCEDURES. 

22 (a) PERIOD FOR REVIEW BY CONGRESS.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The expedited procedures 

24 provided by this section shall be available for the fol25 lowing joint resolutions: 


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1 (A) QUADRENNIAL RECONSIDERATION.—A 

2 joint resolution that is described in subsection 

3 (b)(1)(A), during the 60-calendar day period 

4 after the date on which expedited congressional 

5 reconsideration begins pursuant to section 4(b). 

6 (B) REMOVAL OF A NEW ASSOCIATED

7 FORCE.—A joint resolution that is described in 

8 subsection (b)(1)(B), during the 60-calendar 

9 day period after the date on which the Presi10 dent designates a new organization, person, or 

11 force as an associated force by submitting to 

12 the appropriate congressional committees and 

13 leadership a report required under section 5(a). 

14 (C) REMOVAL OF A NEW FOREIGN COUN15 TRY.—A joint resolution that is described in 

16 subsection (b)(1)(C), during the 60-calendar 

17 day period after the date on which the Presi18 dent notifies the appropriate congressional com19 mittees and leadership in a report required by 

20 section 5(b)(1) that the United States is using 

21 military force in a new foreign country pursu22 ant to this joint resolution. 

23 (b) QUALIFYING RESOLUTION.— 


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1 (1) QUALIFYING RESOLUTION.—In this joint 

2 resolution, the term ‘‘qualifying resolution’’ means 

3 only a joint resolution of either House of Congress— 

4 (A) to repeal or modify this joint resolu5 tion— 

6 (i) the title of which is as follows: ‘‘A 

7 joint resolution relating to the Authoriza8 tion for Use of Military Force of 2018.’’; 

9 (ii) the sole matter after the resolving 

10 clause of which is the following: ‘‘(a) The 

11 Authorization for Use of Military Force of 

12 2018 is hereby lllll.’’, with the 

13 blank space being filled in with the words 

14 ‘‘repealed’’ or ‘‘modified as provided in 

15 subsection (b)’’; 

16 (iii) the matter in subsection (b), if 

17 applicable, is ‘‘(b) MODIFICATION TO THE

18 AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY

19 FORCE OF 2018.—llll’’, with the 

20 blank space being filled in with any modi21 fications to the Authorization for Use of 

22 Military Force of 2018 that are relevant to 

23 such authorization; and 

24 (iv) that is introduced during the 30- 

25 calendar day period following each date on 


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1 which expedited congressional reconsider2 ation begins pursuant to section 4(b); 

3 (B) to amend this joint resolution to re4 move the authorization to use military force 

5 against an associated force designated by the 

6 President pursuant to this joint resolution— 

7 (i) the title of which is as follows: ‘‘A 

8 joint resolution to remove the authorization 

9 for use of military force against an associ10 ated force provided by the Authorization 

11 for Use of Military Force of 2018.’’; 

12 (ii) that does not have a preamble; 

13 (iii) the sole matter after the resolving 

14 clause of which is the following: ‘‘The Au15 thorization for Use of Military Force of 

16 2018 is hereby amended by adding at the 

17 end: ‘As of the date of enactment of 

18 llll, this joint resolution shall not 

19 authorize the use of military force against 

20 llll.’.’’, with the first blank space 

21 being filled in with the title of the quali22 fying resolution and the second blank 

23 space being filled in with the name of the 

24 associated force; and 


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1 (iv) that is introduced during the 30- 

2 calendar day period after the date on 

3 which the President designates such new 

4 associated force by submitting to the ap5 propriate congressional committees and 

6 leadership a report required by section 

7 5(a); or 

8 (C) to amend this joint resolution to re9 move the authorization to use military force in 

10 a new foreign country pursuant to this joint 

11 resolution— 

12 (i) the title of which is as follows: ‘‘A 

13 joint resolution to remove the authorization 

14 for use of military force in a foreign coun15 try provided by the Authorization for Use 

16 of Military Force of 2018.’’; 

17 (ii) that does not have a preamble; 

18 (iii) the sole matter after the resolving 

19 clause of which is the following: ‘‘The Au20 thorization for Use of Military Force of 

21 2018 is hereby amended by adding at the 

22 end: ‘As of the date of enactment of 

23 llll this joint resolution shall not au24 thorize the use of military force in 

25 llll.’.’’, with the first blank space 


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1 being filled in with the title of the quali2 fying resolution and the second blank 

3 space being filled in with the name of the 

4 foreign country; and 

5 (iv) that is introduced during the 30- 

6 calendar day period after the date on 

7 which the President notifies the appro8 priate congressional committees and lead9 ership in a report required by section 

10 5(b)(1) of this joint resolution that the 

11 United States is using military force in 

12 such new foreign country pursuant to this 

13 joint resolution. 

14 (2) AMENDMENTS.—(A) A qualifying resolution 

15 described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be subject only 

16 to relevant amendment. 

17 (B) No amendments shall be received to a 

18 qualifying resolution described in subparagraph (B) 

19 or (C) of paragraph (1). 

20 (3) FLOOR CONSIDERATION IN HOUSE OF REP21 RESENTATIVES.—If a committee of the House of 

22 Representatives to which a qualifying resolution has 

23 been referred has not reported any qualifying resolu24 tion within 10 calendar days after the expiration of 

25 the applicable 30-calendar day period for introducVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ59.IS SJ59

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1 tion of the qualifying resolution, that committee 

2 shall be discharged from further consideration of 

3 any qualifying resolution and any qualifying resolu4 tion shall be placed on the appropriate calendar. 

5 (4) CONSIDERATION IN THE SENATE.— 

6 (A) COMMITTEE REFERRAL.—A qualifying 

7 resolution introduced in the Senate shall be re8 ferred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. 

9 (B) REPORTING AND DISCHARGE.—If the 

10 Committee on Foreign Relations has not re11 ported any qualifying resolution within 10 cal12 endar days after the expiration of the applicable 

13 30-calendar day period for introduction of the 

14 qualifying resolution, the committee shall be 

15 discharged from consideration of any qualifying 

16 resolution introduced during the applicable 30- 

17 calendar day period and any such resolution 

18 shall be placed on the calendar. 

19 (C) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.— 

20 Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing 

21 Rules of the Senate, it is in order at any time 

22 during the applicable period for review provided 

23 by subsection (a), after the Committee on For24 eign Relations of the Senate reports a quali25 fying resolution to the Senate or has been disVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Apr 17, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ59.IS SJ59

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1 charged from consideration of such a qualifying 

2 resolution, to move to proceed to the consider3 ation of the qualifying resolution, except that 

4 no motion to proceed shall be in order after one 

5 motion to proceed to a qualifying resolution has 

6 been disposed of with respect to the same new 

7 associated force or the same new foreign coun8 try, or, in the case of a qualifying resolution de9 scribed in subsection (b)(1)(A), after one mo10 tion to proceed to such a qualifying resolution 

11 has been disposed of. Consideration of the mo12 tion to proceed shall be limited to not more 

13 than 8 hours equally divided between the major14 ity leader and the minority leader or their des15 ignees. The motion to consider is not subject to 

16 a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider 

17 the vote by which the motion is agreed to or 

18 disagreed to shall not be in order. All points of 

19 order against the qualifying resolution are 

20 waived. If, after one motion to proceed to a 

21 qualifying resolution has been disposed of, any 

22 qualifying resolution regarding the same new 

23 associated force or the same new foreign coun24 try remains on the calendar, a motion to pro25 ceed to consider such resolution shall not be in 


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1 order for the remainder of the Congress. If, 

2 after one motion to proceed to a qualifying res3 olution identified in subsection (b)(1)(A) has 

4 been disposed of, any qualifying resolution re5 mains on the calendar, a motion to proceed to 

6 consider such resolution shall not be in order 

7 for the remainder of the Congress. 

8 (D) CONSIDERATION OF VETO MES9 SAGES.—Debate in the Senate of any veto mes10 sage with respect to a qualifying resolution, in11 cluding all debatable motions and appeals in 

12 connection with the joint resolution, shall be 

13 limited to 10 hours, to be equally divided be14 tween, and controlled by, the majority leader 

15 and the minority leader or their designees. 

16 (5) RULES OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

17 AND SENATE.—This section is enacted by Con18 gress— 

19 (A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power 

20 of the Senate and the House of Representa21 tives, respectively, and as such is deemed a part 

22 of the rules of each House, respectively, but ap23 plicable only with respect to the procedure to be 

24 followed in that House in the case of a quali25 fying resolution, and supersedes other rules 


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1 only to the extent that it is inconsistent with 

2 such rules; and 

3 (B) with full recognition of the constitu4 tional right of either House to change the rules 

5 (so far as relating to the procedure of that 

6 House) at any time, in the same manner, and 

7 to the same extent as in the case of any other 

8 rule of that House. 

9 SEC. 10. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. 

10 Section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization 

11 Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112–81; 10 U.S.C. 

12 801 note) is amended— 

13 (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘and the Au14 thorization for Use of Military Force of 2018’’ after 

15 ‘‘the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public 

16 Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note)’’; 

17 (2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ‘‘, the Is18 lamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS),’’ after ‘‘the 

19 Taliban’’; and 

20 (3) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ‘‘or the 

21 Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2018’’ 

22 after ‘‘the Authorization for Use of Military Force’’. 

23 SEC. 11. SEVERABILITY. 

24 If any provision of this joint resolution, or the appli25 cation of any provision to any person or circumstance, is 


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1 held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this joint res2 olution, and the application of the provisions of this joint 

3 resolution to any person or circumstance, shall not be af4 fected. 

Æ 


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