IIA 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. J. RES. 44 

To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against the Islamic 

State in Iraq and the Levant. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 17 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 16), 2014 

Mr. KAINE introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against 

the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. 

Whereas that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant 

(ISIL), also known as ISIS or the Islamic State, is a terrorist organization committing daily acts of barbarity 

currently encompassing large portions of Syria and Iraq, 

and is a serious threat to the United States and the 

international community; 

Whereas ISIL’s violence is destructive of religious freedom, 

the equality of women, protections against genocide, principles of national sovereignty, freedom of expression, and 

other core human rights protected by international law; 

Whereas ISIL’s grisly execution of United States hostages, 

recruitment of United States citizens and others to serve 

as foreign fighters that threaten to return to the United 


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•SJ 44 IS 

States and other nations, and pledges to carry out additional acts of violence directly against the United States 

make it a threat of growing significance to the United 

States; and 

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2169 

(2014) and 2170 (2014) note that ISIL’s advancement 

is a major threat to Iraq’s future, condemn attacks by 

ISIL, reiterate international community support for 

Iraq’s security and territorial integrity, and emphasize 

the need for the international community to work together to help stabilize Iraq and combat ISIL: 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 against the Islamic State 

6 in Iraq and the Levant’’. 

7 SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES 

8 ARMED FORCES AGAINST THE ISLAMIC 

9 STATE IN IRAQ AND THE LEVANT. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—In order to protect the United 

11 States and other countries from terrorist attacks by the 

12 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and in order 

13 to protect individuals from acts of violence in clear con14 travention of international law and basic human rights, 

15 the President is authorized, as part of a multinational coa16 lition, subject to the limitations in subsection (b)— 


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•SJ 44 IS 

1 (1) to use all necessary and appropriate force to 

2 participate in a campaign of airstrikes in Iraq, and 

3 if the President deems necessary, in Syria, to de4 grade and defeat ISIL; and 

5 (2) to provide military equipment and training 

6 to forces fighting ISIL in Iraq or Syria, including 

7 the Iraqi security forces, Kurdish fighters, and other 

8 legitimate, appropriately vetted, non-terrorist opposi9 tion groups in Syria. 

10 (b) NO AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF GROUND

11 FORCES OR FORCE AGAINST ASSOCIATED FORCES.—The 

12 authorization in this section does not include— 

13 (1) authorization for the use of United States 

14 ground combat forces, except for the purposes set 

15 forth in subsection (a)(2) or as necessary for the 

16 protection or rescue of members of the United 

17 States Armed Forces or United States citizens from 

18 imminent danger posed by ISIL, or for limited oper19 ations against high value targets; or 

20 (2) authorization for the use of force against 

21 forces associated with ISIL, unless such forces are 

22 identified in a report submitted under section 4 as 

23 individuals or organizations that are immediately 

24 and directly fighting alongside ISIL in Iraq and 

25 Syria. 


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1 (c) EXPIRATION.—The authorization in this section 

2 shall expire on the date that is one year after the date 

3 of the enactment of this joint resolution. 

4 (d) WAR POWERS RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS.— 

5 (1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION.— 

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

7 Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is 

8 intended to constitute specific statutory authoriza9 tion within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War 

10 Powers Resolution. 

11 (2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIRE12 MENTS.—Nothing in this resolution supercedes any 

13 requirement of the War Powers Resolution. 

14 SEC. 3. REPEAL OF PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF 

15 UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AGAINST 

16 IRAQ. 

17 The Authorization for the Use of Military Force 

18 Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 

19 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed. 

20 SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVID21 UALS IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY FIGHT22 ING ALONGSIDE ISIL. 

23 Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact24 ment of this resolution, and every 90 days thereafter, the 

25 President shall submit to Congress a list of those organiVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Sep 18, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ44.IS SJ44

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1 zations or individuals immediately and directly fighting 

2 alongside ISIL for purposes of actions taken pursuant to 

3 this joint resolution. The list shall be maintained in un4 classified form but may contain a classified annex. 

5 SEC. 5. REPORTS. 

6 The President shall report to Congress every 90 days 

7 after enactment of this resolution regarding the progress 

8 of the effort against ISIL. 

9 SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 

10 Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as— 

11 (1) authorizing support for force in support of, 

12 or in cooperation with, the national government of 

13 Syria that was in power as of the date of the enact14 ment of this resolution, or its security services; or 

15 (2) limiting the constitutional or statutory pow16 ers of the President or Congress, or any additional 

17 powers held by the United States pursuant to inter18 national law or treaty. 

Æ 


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