III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 83 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 13, 2020 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War 

Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States 

Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran. 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), 

3 SECTION 1. TERMINATION OF USE OF UNITED STATES 

4 ARMED FORCES TO ENGAGE IN HOSTILITIES 

5 IN OR AGAINST IRAN. 

6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find7 ings: 


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HCON 83 RFS 

1 (1) The Government of Iran is a leading state 

2 sponsor of terrorism and engages in a range of de3 stabilizing activities across the Middle East. Iranian 

4 General Qassem Soleimani was the lead architect of 

5 much of Iran’s destabilizing activities throughout the 

6 world. 

7 (2) The United States has an inherent right to 

8 self-defense against imminent armed attacks. The 

9 United States maintains the right to ensure the 

10 safety of diplomatic personnel serving abroad. 

11 (3) In matters of imminent armed attacks, the 

12 executive branch should indicate to Congress why 

13 military action was necessary within a certain win14 dow of opportunity, the possible harm that missing 

15 the window would cause, and why the action was 

16 likely to prevent future disastrous attacks against 

17 the United States. 

18 (4) The United States has national interests in 

19 preserving its partnership with Iraq and other coun20 tries in the region, including by— 

21 (A) combating terrorists, including the Is22 lamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); 

23 (B) preventing Iran from achieving a nu24 clear weapons capability; and 


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HCON 83 RFS 

1 (C) supporting the people of Iraq, Iran, 

2 and other countries throughout the Middle East 

3 who demand an end to government corruption 

4 and violations of basic human rights. 

5 (5) Over the past eight months, in response to 

6 rising tensions with Iran, the United States has in7 troduced over 15,000 additional forces into the Mid8 dle East. 

9 (6) When the United States uses military force, 

10 the American people and members of the United 

11 States Armed Forces deserve a credible explanation 

12 regarding such use of military force. 

13 (7) The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 

14 1541 et seq.) requires the President to consult with 

15 Congress ‘‘in every possible instance’’ before intro16 ducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities. 

17 (8) Congress has not authorized the President 

18 to use military force against Iran. 

19 (b) TERMINATION.—Pursuant to section 5(c) of the 

20 War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress 

21 hereby directs the President to terminate the use of 

22 United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or 

23 against Iran or any part of its government or military, 

24 unless— 


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1 (1) Congress has declared war or enacted spe2 cific statutory authorization for such use of the 

3 Armed Forces; or 

4 (2) such use of the Armed Forces is necessary 

5 and appropriate to defend against an imminent 

6 armed attack upon the United States, its territories 

7 or possessions, or its Armed Forces, consistent with 

8 the requirements of the War Powers Resolution. 

9 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec10 tion may be construed— 

11 (1) to prevent the President from using military 

12 force against al Qaeda or associated forces; 

13 (2) to limit the obligations of the executive 

14 branch set forth in the War Powers Resolution (50 

15 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); 

16 (3) to affect the provisions of an Act or joint 

17 resolution of Congress specifically authorizing the 

18 use of United States Armed Forces to engage in 

19 hostilities against Iran or any part of its government 

20 or military that is enacted after the date of the 

21 adoption of this concurrent resolution; 

22 (4) to prevent the use of necessary and appro23 priate military force to defend United States allies 

24 and partners if authorized by Congress consistent 


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1 with the requirements of the War Powers Resolu2 tion; or 

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

Passed the House of Representatives January 9, 

2020. 

Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 

Clerk. 


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