IA 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. J. RES. 128 
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against the Islamic 
State of Iraq and the Levant. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut introduced the following joint resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against 
the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. 
Whereas the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has 
committed gruesome atrocities in Iraq and Syria; 
Whereas ISIL has been instigating sectarian violence that 
threatens the stability of the Middle East region and the 
national security interest of the United States; 
Whereas ISIL has directly threatened the United States and 
has kidnapped and killed United States citizens in Syria; 
Whereas such acts continue to pose an unusual and extraor-
dinary threat to the national security and foreign policy 
of the United States; 
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Whereas such acts render it both necessary and appropriate 
that the United States exercise its rights to self-defense 
and to protect United States citizens both at home and 
abroad; 
Whereas consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public 
Law 93–148), the President authorized a series of lim-
ited airstrikes in Iraq to protect United States personnel 
and support certain humanitarian operations; and 
Whereas continued use of the United States Armed Forces 
after the time limitations specified in section 5(b) of the 
War Powers Act requires authorization by the United 
States Congress: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This joint resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Authoriza-
tion for Use of Military Force Against ISIL Resolution’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the President has rightly committed limited 
forces in Iraq to protect United States diplomatic 
and military personnel against the threat of the Is-
lamic State of Iraq and the Levant (‘‘ISIL’’); 
(2) the President should be commended for au-
thorizing military operations to protect ethnic and 
religious minorities from slaughter at the hands of 
ISIL and for providing assistance to prevent a hu-
manitarian disaster; 
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(3) the President should be commended for 
working with North Atlantic Treaty Organization al-
lies to form a coordinated world response to the 
threat of ISIL; 
(4) if the President determines that it is nec-
essary to use the United States Armed Forces 
against ISIL, the President— 
(A) should seek consensus in the United 
Nations Security Council prior to pursuing a 
multilateral military campaign against ISIL; 
(B) should endeavor to form a coalition of 
allies as broadly based as practicable to support 
and participate with the United States Armed 
Forces; and 
(C) should seek equal participation and as-
sistance from members of the Arab League; and 
(5) although military intervention might be nec-
essary to significantly disrupt and degrade ISIL’s 
activities and operational capabilities in Iraq and 
Syria, a negotiated political solution among ethnic 
groups is the only sure solution to end sectarian vio-
lence and reach permanent peace. 
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SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES 
ARMED 
FORCES 
IN 
ACCORDANCE 
WITH 
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESO-
LUTION. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The President is authorized to 
use the United States Armed Forces as the President de-
termines to be necessary and appropriate in order to— 
(1) defend the national security of the United 
States against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Le-
vant (‘‘ISIL’’); and 
(2) enforce a United Nations Security Council 
resolution adopted on or after the date of the enact-
ment of this joint resolution that— 
(A) provides for multilateral action against 
ISIL, including sanctions, humanitarian assist-
ance to those affected by the violence, and the 
protection of civilians, refugees, nongovern-
mental organization workers and journalists; 
and 
(B) authorizes a military force, formed by 
a coalition of nations, including members of the 
Arab League, under the auspices of the United 
Nations Security Council for the individual and 
collective self-defense against ISIL and to de-
grade its capacities to commit terrorist acts, de-
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stabilize peaceful governments, and perpetuate 
further attacks. 
(b) RULE
OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in sub-
section (a) shall be construed to prevent or otherwise limit 
the authority of the Armed Forces to use all appropriate 
force for self-defense and enforcement purposes. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES 
ARMED FORCES IN ABSENCE OF UNITED NA-
TIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The President is authorized to 
use the United States Armed Forces as the President de-
termines to be necessary and appropriate to defend the 
national security of the United States against the Islamic 
State of Iraq and the Levant (‘‘ISIL’’), other than the 
use of such Armed Forces in direct ground combat oper-
ations, if— 
(1) the President submits to the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and the President pro 
tempore of the Senate— 
(A) a certification described in subsection 
(b); and 
(B) a strategy for the use of military force 
against ISIL; and 
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(2) a joint resolution that meets the require-
ments of a qualifying resolution under section 5 is 
enacted into law. 
(b) CERTIFICATION DESCRIBED.—A certification de-
scribed in this subsection is a certification that— 
(1)(A) the United States has sought adoption 
by the United Nations Security Council of a resolu-
tion described in section 2(4), and the Security 
Council has failed to adopt such a resolution, and no 
other action taken by the United Nations Security 
Council has been sufficient to compel action against 
ISIL; or 
(B) the United Nations Security Council has 
passed a resolution that does not sanction the use of 
force, and— 
(i) the United Nations Security Council is 
unlikely to take further action that will result 
in authorizing military action; and 
(ii) the use of military force against ISIL 
is necessary to combat its threat; and 
(2) the United States is in the process of estab-
lishing, or has established, a coalition of other coun-
tries as broadly based as practicable to support and 
participate with the United States in any action that 
is taken against ISIL. 
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SEC. 5. EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF 
JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING USE OF 
FORCE UNDER SECTION 4. 
(a) QUALIFYING RESOLUTION.—(1) This section ap-
plies with respect to a joint resolution of the Senate or 
House of Representatives— 
(A) that is a qualifying resolution; and 
(B) that is introduced (by request) by a quali-
fying Member as described in paragraph (2) not 
later than the next legislative day after the date of 
submission of a certification described in section 
4(b) by the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
and the President pro tempore of the Senate; and 
(C) the text of which is as follows: ‘‘The Presi-
dent is authorized to use the United States Armed 
Forces as the President determines to be necessary 
and appropriate to defend the national security of 
the United States against the Islamic State of Iraq 
and the Levant (‘ISIL’), other than the use of such 
Armed Forces in direct ground combat operations.’’. 
(2) For purposes of this subsection, a qualifying 
Member is— 
(A) in the case of the House of Representatives, 
the majority leader or minority leader of the House 
of Representatives; and 
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(B) in the case of the Senate, the majority lead-
er or minority leader of the Senate. 
(b) PLACEMENT ON CALENDAR.—Upon introduction 
in either House of a resolution described in subsection (a), 
the resolution shall be placed on the appropriate calendar 
of the House involved. 
(c) CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT-
ATIVES.—(1) A resolution described in subsection (a) shall 
be considered in the House of Representatives in accord-
ance with the provisions of this subsection. 
(2) On or after the first legislative day after the day 
on which such a resolution is introduced, it is in order 
(even though a previous motion to the same effect has 
been disagreed to) for any Member of the House of Rep-
resentatives to move to proceed to the consideration of the 
resolution. All points of order against the resolution (and 
against consideration of the resolution) are waived. Such 
a motion is privileged and is not debatable. An amendment 
to the motion is not in order. It shall not be in order to 
move to postpone the motion or to proceed to the consider-
ation of other business. A motion to reconsider the vote 
by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not 
be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration 
of the resolution is agreed to, the House of Representa-
tives shall immediately proceed to consideration of the res-
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olution without intervening motion, and the resolution 
shall remain the unfinished business of the House of Rep-
resentatives until disposed of. 
(3) Debate on the resolution shall be limited to not 
more than a total of 20 hours, which shall be divided 
equally between the majority leader and the minority lead-
er or their designees. A motion to further limit debate is 
not debatable. An amendment to, or motion to recommit, 
the resolution is not in order. 
(4) Immediately following the conclusion of the de-
bate on the resolution, the vote on final passage of the 
resolution shall occur. 
(5) A motion to reconsider the vote by which the reso-
lution is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. 
(d) CONSIDERATION IN SENATE.—(1) A resolution 
described in subsection (a) shall be considered in the Sen-
ate in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. 
(2) On or after the first legislative day after the day 
on which such a resolution is introduced, it is in order 
(even though a previous motion to the same effect has 
been disagreed to) for any Member of the Senate to move 
to proceed to the consideration of the resolution. All points 
of order against the resolution (and against consideration 
of the resolution) are waived. The motion is privileged and 
is not debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment, 
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or to a motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to 
the consideration of other business. A motion to reconsider 
the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed 
to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the 
consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the Senate 
shall immediately proceed to consideration of the resolu-
tion without intervening motion, order, or other business, 
and the resolution shall remain the unfinished business of 
the Senate until disposed of. 
(3) Debate on the resolution, and on all debatable 
motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be lim-
ited to not more than a total of 20 hours, which shall be 
divided equally between the majority leader and the minor-
ity leader or their designees. A motion to further limit de-
bate is not debatable. An amendment to, or motion to re-
commit, the resolution is not in order. 
(4) Immediately following the conclusion of the de-
bate on a resolution and a single quorum call at the con-
clusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the 
rules of the Senate, the vote on final passage of the resolu-
tion shall occur. 
(5) A motion to reconsider the vote by which the reso-
lution is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order. 
(6) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating 
to the application of the rules of the Senate to the proce-
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dure relating to a resolution described in subsection (a) 
shall be decided without debate. 
(e) ACTION ON MEASURE FROM OTHER HOUSE.— 
(1) If, before the passage by one House of a resolution 
of that House described in subsection (a), that House re-
ceives from the other House a resolution described in sub-
section (a), then the following procedures shall apply: 
(A) The resolution of the other House shall not 
be referred to a committee and may not be consid-
ered in the House receiving it except as provided in 
subparagraph (B)(ii). 
(B) With respect to a resolution described in 
subsection (a) of the House receiving the resolu-
tion— 
(i) the procedure in that House shall be 
the same as if no resolution had been received 
from the other House; but 
(ii) the vote on final passage shall be on 
the resolution of the other House. 
(2) 
Upon 
disposition 
pursuant 
to 
paragraph 
(1)(B)(ii) of a resolution described in subsection (a) that 
is received by one House from the other House, it shall 
no longer be in order to consider such a resolution that 
was introduced in the receiving House. 
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(f) LEGISLATIVE DAY DEFINED.—For the purposes 
of this section, with respect to either House of Congress, 
a ‘‘legislative day’’ is a calendar day on which that House 
is in session. 
(g) SECTION ENACTED
AS EXERCISE
OF RULE-
MAKING POWER OF THE TWO HOUSES.—The provisions 
of this section (other than subsection (h)) are enacted by 
the Congress— 
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate, re-
spectively, and, as such, shall be considered as part 
of the rules of either House and shall supersede 
other rules only to the extent they are inconsistent 
therewith; and 
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change the rules (so far as 
they relate to the procedures of that House) at any 
time, in the same manner, and to the same extent 
as in the case of any other rule of that House. 
(h) PRESIDENTIAL RECALL OF CONGRESS.—In the 
event that Congress is not in session upon submission of 
a Presidential certification under section 4, the President 
is authorized to convene a special session of the Congress 
to allow consideration of a joint resolution under this sec-
tion. 
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SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—At least once every 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of this joint resolution, the 
President shall transmit to Congress a report on matters 
relevant to this joint resolution. The President shall in-
clude in such report when, where, and under what cir-
cumstances lethal force has been used pursuant to the au-
thorization for use of the United States Armed Forces 
under section 3 or 4 (as the case may be), and how many 
civilian casualties have resulted from those actions as well 
as an estimate of expenditures by the United States and 
allied nations to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the 
Levant (‘‘ISIL’’). The President shall include in such re-
port the status of planning for efforts that are expected 
to be required for the redeployment of United States 
Armed Forces after actions taken pursuant to this joint 
resolution are completed. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The President shall consult on 
a regular basis with the congressional committees of juris-
diction to provide updated information on actions being 
taken pursuant to this joint resolution in either public or 
closed sessions. 
SEC. 7. WAR POWERS RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION.—Con-
sistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, 
the Congress declares that section 3 or 4 (as the case may 
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be) is intended to constitute specific authorization within 
the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution. 
(b) APPLICABILITY
OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS.— 
Nothing in this resolution supersedes any requirement of 
the War Powers Resolution. 
SEC. 8. INHERENT RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE. 
Nothing in this joint resolution is intended to dero-
gate or otherwise limit the authority of the President to 
use military force in self-defense pursuant to the Constitu-
tion of the United States and the War Powers Resolution. 
SEC. 9. REPEALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), the fol-
lowing provisions of law are hereby repealed: 
(1) The Authorization for Use of Military Force 
Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107– 
243). 
(2) The Authorization for Use of Military Force 
(Public Law 107–40). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The repeal made by sub-
section (a)(2) shall be effective as of the date that is two 
years after the date of the enactment of this joint resolu-
tion. 
SEC. 10. SUNSET. 
This joint resolution and the authorities under this 
joint resolution (other than section 9) shall expire on the 
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date that is two years after the date of the enactment of 
this joint resolution. 
Æ 
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