IA 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. J. RES. 82 
Direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against 
the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 7, 2020 
Ms. OMAR submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from 
hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have 
not been authorized by Congress. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Congress has the sole power to declare war 
under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United 
States Constitution. 
(2) Congress has not yet declared war upon, 
nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for use 
of military force against, the Islamic Republic of 
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Iran. The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military 
Force (Public Law 107–40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) 
against the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack and the 
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq 
Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 50 U.S.C. 
1541 note) do not serve as a specific statutory au-
thorization for war against Iran, and neither author-
ize any such action. The Trump Administration has 
acknowledged that neither act is specific statutory 
authorization for military action against Iran. 
(3) President Donald J. Trump understands 
that Congress has not authorized war with Iran and 
has stated that he has the authority to initiate such 
military action without first going to Congress, as 
reported in The Hill on June 24, 2019. 
(4) The conflict between the United States and 
the Islamic Republic of Iran constitutes, within the 
meaning of section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolu-
tion (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)), either hostilities or a situ-
ation where imminent involvement in hostilities is 
clearly indicated by the circumstances into which 
United States Armed Forces have been introduced. 
(5) Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution 
(50 U.S.C. 1544(c)) states that ‘‘at any time that 
United States Armed Forces are engaged in hos-
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tilities outside the territory of the United States, its 
possessions and territories without a declaration of 
war or specific statutory authorization, such forces 
shall be removed by the President if the Congress so 
directs’’. 
(6) Section 8(c) of the War Powers Resolution 
(50 U.S.C. 1547(c)) defines the introduction of the 
United States Armed Forces to include ‘‘the assign-
ment of members of such armed forces to command, 
coordinate, participate in the movement of, or ac-
company the regular or irregular forces of any for-
eign country or government when such military 
forces are engaged, or there exists an imminent 
threat that such forces will become engaged in, hos-
tilities’’. 
(7) The United States Armed Forces have been 
introduced into hostilities, as defined by the War 
Powers Resolution, against Iran. 
(8) Department of Defense officials have been 
warning for more than a year that the Trump Ad-
ministration ‘‘maximum pressure campaign’’ against 
Iran, which has included economic, diplomatic and 
military pressure, is raising the risk of retaliation 
against United States troops and personnel. The 
cycle of escalating back-and-forth violence between 
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Iran and its proxies and the United States and its 
allies have proven their warnings correct. 
(9) The question of whether United States 
forces should be engaged in armed conflict against 
Iran should only be made following a full briefing to 
Congress and the American public of the issues at 
stake, a public debate in Congress, and a congres-
sional vote as contemplated by the Constitution. The 
absence of such a deliberative approach is deeply un-
fair to members of the United States Armed Forces 
and other Americans whose lives are at risk in the 
event of hostilities between the United States and 
Iran. 
(10) Section 1013 of the Department of State 
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 
U.S.C. 1546a) provides that any joint resolution or 
bill to require the removal of United States Armed 
Forces engaged in hostilities without a declaration of 
war or specific statutory authorization shall be con-
sidered in accordance with the expedited procedures 
of section 601(b) of the International Security and 
Arms Export Control Act of 1976. 
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SEC. 2. REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES FORCES FROM HOS-
TILITIES AGAINST THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC 
OF IRAN. 
(a) REMOVAL
OF FORCES.—Pursuant to section 
1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fis-
cal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a), and in ac-
cordance with the provisions of section 601(b) of the Inter-
national Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act 
of 1976, Congress hereby directs the President to remove 
United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the 
Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government 
or military, by not later than the date that is 30 days 
after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution un-
less explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific 
authorization for use of military force. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to prevent the United States from 
defending itself from imminent attack. 
Æ 
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