Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2017

To provide that the President must seek congressional approval before engaging members of the United States Armed Forces in military humanitarian operations. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2017 2. Military humanitarian operation defined (a) In general In this Act, the term military humanitarian operation (1) operations undertaken pursuant to the principle of the “responsibility to protect” as referenced in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1674 (2006); (2) operations specifically authorized by the United Nations Security Council, or other international organizations; and (3) unilateral deployments and deployments made in coordination with international organizations, treaty-based organizations, or coalitions formed to address specific humanitarian catastrophes. (b) Operations not included The term military humanitarian operation (1) Responding to or repelling attacks, or preventing imminent attacks, on the United States or any of its territorial possessions, embassies, or consulates, or members of the United States Armed Forces. (2) Direct acts of reprisal for attacks on the United States or any of its territorial possessions, embassies, or consulates, or members of the United States Armed Forces. (3) Invoking the inherent right to individual or collective self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. (4) Military missions to protect or rescue United States citizens or military or diplomatic personnel abroad. (5) Carrying out treaty commitments to directly aid allies in distress. (6) Humanitarian missions in response to natural disasters where no civil unrest or combat with hostile forces is reasonably anticipated, and where such operation is for not more than 30 days. (7) Actions to maintain maritime freedom of navigation, including actions aimed at combating piracy. (8) Training exercises conducted by the United States Armed Forces abroad where no combat with hostile forces is reasonably anticipated. 3. Requirement for congressional authorization The President may not deploy members of the United States Armed Forces into the territory, airspace, or waters of a foreign country for a military humanitarian operation not previously authorized by statute unless— (1) the President submits to Congress a formal request for authorization to use members of the Armed Forces for the military humanitarian operation; and (2) Congress enacts a specific authorization for such use of forces. 4. Severability If any provision of this Act is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected.

Summary: Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2017 This bill defines a "military humanitarian operation" as one involving the deployment of members or weapons systems of the U.S. Armed Forces where hostile activities are reasonably anticipated with the aim of preventing or responding to a humanitarian catastrophe or addressing a threat posed to international peace and security, including: operations undertaken pursuant to the principle of the "responsibility to protect" in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1674 (2006); operations specifically authorized by the Security Council or other international organizations; and unilateral deployments and deployments made in coordination with international organizations, treaty-based organizations, or coalitions formed to address specific humanitarian catastrophes. Such term excludes a military operation undertaken for other purposes, including to respond to, repel, or prevent attacks on the United States. The President may not deploy members of the Armed Forces into the territory, airspace, or waters of a foreign country for a military humanitarian operation not previously authorized by statute unless: (1) the President submits to Congress a formal request for authorization to use such members for the operation, and (2) Congress enacts a specific authorization for such use of forces.