IIA 

Calendar No. 653 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. J. RES. 47 

[Report No. 113–323] 

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

the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 13, 2014 

Mr. MENENDEZ, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported the following original joint resolution; which was read twice and placed on the 

calendar 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

To authorize the limited use of the United States Armed 

Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. 

Whereas the terrorist organization known as the Islamic 

State of Iraq and the Levant and various other names (in 

this resolution referred to as ‘‘ISIL’’) poses a grave 

threat to the people and territorial integrity of Iraq, 

Syria, regional stability, and the national security interests of the United States and its allies and partners; 

Whereas ISIL holds significant territory in Iraq and Syria 

and has stated its intention to seize more territory and 

demonstrated the capability to do so; 


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•SJ 47 PCS 

Whereas ISIL leaders have stated that they intend to conduct 

terrorist attacks internationally, including against the 

United States, its citizens, and interests; 

Whereas ISIL has committed despicable acts of violence and 

mass executions against Muslims, regardless of sect, who 

do not subscribe to ISIL’s depraved, violent, and oppressive ideology; 

Whereas ISIL has threatened genocide and committed vicious 

acts of violence against religious and ethnic minority 

groups, including Iraqi Christians, Yezidi, and Turkmen 

populations; 

Whereas ISIL has targeted innocent women and girls with 

horrific acts of violence, including abduction, enslavement, torture, rape, and forced marriage; 

Whereas ISIL is responsible for the brutal murder of innocent United States citizens, including James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig; 

Whereas it is the policy of the United States to work with 

regional and global allies and partners to degrade and defeat ISIL, to cut off its funding, to stop the flow of foreign fighters to its ranks, and to support local communities as they reject ISIL; 

Whereas the announcement of the anti-ISIL Coalition on 

September 5, 2014, during the NATO Summit in Wales, 

stated that ISIL poses a serious threat and should be 

countered by a broad international coalition; 

Whereas President Barack Obama articulated five lines of effort in the campaign to counter ISIL, including supporting regional military partners, stopping the flow of 

foreign fighters, cutting off ISIL’s access to financing, 


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addressing urgent humanitarian needs, and contesting 

ISIL’s messaging; 

Whereas the United States Government calls on its allies and 

partners in the Middle East and North Africa that have 

not already done so to join and participate in the antiISIL Coalition; 

Whereas the United States Government has successfully conducted airstrikes in Iraq, in coordination with Iraqi and 

Kurdish security forces, to prevent humanitarian catastrophes, protect vulnerable minority populations, repel 

ISIL from areas of strategic importance, and demonstrate support to communities in western and northern 

Iraq being terrorized by ISIL; 

Whereas the United States Government has successfully conducted airstrikes in Syria, in coordination with local actors on the ground who demonstrate commitment and capability in countering ISIL, in order to target ISIL training camps and munitions facilities, stop sources of ISIL 

funding, protect vulnerable minority populations, and target extremist groups intent on attacking the United 

States and its allies; 

Whereas United States and Coalition airstrikes to date have 

succeeded in halting ISIL’s advance in Iraq and Syria; 

Whereas the President should to the greatest extent possible 

act in concert or cooperation with the security forces of 

other countries in the region to counter the grave threat 

to regional stability and international security posed by 

ISIL; 

Whereas the anti-ISIL strategy requires effective local security forces in Iraq and Syria, and empowered political 

leaders committed to leading inclusive, representative 


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•SJ 47 PCS 

governments that enable citizens in both countries to 

achieve their legitimate aspirations and to live in peace 

and security; and 

Whereas President Obama stated on November 5, 2014, his 

commitment to working with Congress to pass an authorization for the use of military force for the anti-ISIL 

military campaign: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That 

4 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

5 This joint resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Authoriza6 tion for the Use of Military Force against the Islamic 

7 State of Iraq and the Levant’’. 

8 SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES 

9 ARMED FORCES. 

10 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—The President is authorized, 

11 subject to the limitations in subsection (c), to use the 

12 Armed Forces of the United States as the President deter13 mines to be necessary and appropriate against the Islamic 

14 State of Iraq and the Levant or associated persons or 

15 forces as defined in section 5. 

16 (b) WAR POWERS RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS.— 

17 (1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION.— 

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

19 Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1547(a)(1)), Congress de20 clares that this section is intended to constitute speVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:35 Dec 15, 2014 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ47.PCS SJ47

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1 cific statutory authorization within the meaning of 

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

3 U.S.C. 1544(b)), within the limits of the authoriza4 tion established under this section. 

5 (2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIRE6 MENTS.—Nothing in this resolution supersedes any 

7 requirement of the War Powers Resolution (50 

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

9 (c) LIMITATIONS.—The authority granted in sub10 section (a) does not authorize the use of the United States 

11 Armed Forces for the purpose of ground combat oper12 ations except as necessary— 

13 (1) for the protection or rescue of members of 

14 the United States Armed Forces or United States 

15 citizens from imminent danger posed by ISIL; or 

16 (2) to conduct missions not intended to result 

17 in ground combat operations by United States 

18 forces, such as— 

19 (A) intelligence collection and sharing; 

20 (B) enabling kinetic strikes; 

21 (C) operational planning; or 

22 (D) other forms of advice and assistance to 

23 forces fighting ISIL in Iraq or Syria. 


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1 SEC. 3. DURATION OF THIS AUTHORIZATION. 

2 This authorization for the use of military force shall 

3 terminate three years after the date of the enactment of 

4 this joint resolution, unless reauthorized. 

5 SEC. 4. REPORTS. 

6 (a) PERIODIC REPORT.—The President shall report 

7 to Congress at least once every 60 days on specific actions 

8 taken pursuant to this authorization. 

9 (b) COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.—Not later than 30 

10 days after the date of the enactment of this joint resolu11 tion, the President shall submit to Congress an unclassi12 fied report, which may include a classified annex, on the 

13 comprehensive strategy of the United States in Iraq and 

14 Syria, including all activities authorized by this joint reso15 lution. The comprehensive strategy report shall include— 

16 (1) The specific political and diplomatic objec17 tives of the United States in the region and the 

18 methods proposed to achieve them. 

19 (2) Clearly defined military objectives of the 

20 United States, including— 

21 (A) a list of the organizations and entities 

22 to be targeted by military operations; 

23 (B) the geographic scope of military oper24 ations; and 

25 (C) methods for limiting civilian casualties. 


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1 (3) Actual and proposed contributions from co2 alition partners of the United States, including fi3 nancing, equipment, training, troops, and logistics 

4 support. 

5 (4) Humanitarian assistance and support for 

6 displaced civilian populations. 

7 (5) Benchmarks for assessing progress toward 

8 political, diplomatic, and military goals. 

9 (6) A realistic end goal and exit strategy. 

10 (7) An estimate of the costs involved and how 

11 any funds made available for activities authorized by 

12 this joint resolution will be fully offset through re13 duced spending, increased revenue, or both. 

14 SEC. 5. ASSOCIATED PERSONS OR FORCES DEFINED. 

15 In this joint resolution, the term ‘‘associated persons 

16 or forces’’ means individuals and organizations fighting 

17 for or on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Le18 vant or a closely-related successor entity, for the purposes 

19 of action authorized to be taken under this joint resolu20 tion. 

21 SEC. 6. APPLICABILITY. 

22 The provisions of this joint resolution pertaining to 

23 the authorization of use of force against the Islamic State 

24 of Iraq and the Levant shall supersede any preceding au25 thorization for the use of military force. 


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1 SEC. 7. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY 

2 FORCE AGAINST IRAQ. 

3 The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against 

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

5 1498; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed. 

6 SEC. 8. SUNSET OF 2001 AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILI7 TARY FORCE. 

8 The Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public 

9 Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) shall terminate on the 

10 date that is three years after the date of the enactment 

11 of this Act, unless reauthorized. 


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Calendar No. 653 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. J. RES. 47 

[Report No. 113–323] 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

To authorize the limited use of the United States 

and the Levant. Armed Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq 

DECEMBER 13, 2014 

Read twice and placed on the calendar 


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