IA 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 126 
A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces 
from hostilities that have not been authorized by Congress. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 
Mr. CROW submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States 
Armed Forces from hostilities that have not been author-
ized 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 declared war upon, nor 
enacted a specific statutory authorization for use of 
military force against— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Nov 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HJ126.IH
HJ126
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HJ 126 IH 
(A) any organization designated on or 
after February 20, 2025, as a foreign terrorist 
organization pursuant to section 219(a) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1189(a)) or as a specially designated global ter-
rorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 
U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property 
and prohibiting transactions with persons who 
commit, threaten to commit, or support ter-
rorism); 
(B) any states in which those entities oper-
ate; or 
(C) any non-state organization engaged in 
the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of 
illegal drugs and other related activities. 
(3) The designation of an entity as a foreign 
terrorist organization or specially designated global 
terrorist provides no legal authority for the Presi-
dent to use force against members of designated or-
ganizations or any foreign state. 
(4) There has been no armed attack on the 
United States by— 
(A) any organization designated on or 
after February 20, 2025, as a foreign terrorist 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Nov 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HJ126.IH
HJ126
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HJ 126 IH 
organization or specially designated global ter-
rorist; 
(B) any states in which those entities oper-
ate; or 
(C) any non-state organization engaged in 
the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of 
illegal drugs and other related activities. 
(5) The United States military strike on a ves-
sel on September 2, 2025, and the subsequent 
United States military strike on a vessel on Sep-
tember 15, 2025, constitute, within the meaning of 
section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution (50 
U.S.C. 1543(a)), either hostilities or a situation 
where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly 
indicated by the circumstances into which United 
States Armed Forces have been introduced. The ap-
plication of the War Powers Resolution is without 
prejudice as to whether the strikes themselves vio-
lated United States domestic law, international hu-
manitarian law, or international human rights law. 
(6) Congress has not received sufficient infor-
mation regarding— 
(A) the vessels’ passengers, cargo, or affili-
ation; 
(B) the vessels’ intended destinations; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Nov 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HJ126.IH
HJ126
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HJ 126 IH 
(C) any threats the vessels posed to United 
States interests; 
(D) any justification for the use of lethal 
force against the vessels; 
(E) the availability of non-lethal means to 
interdict the vessels; or 
(F) the purported domestic authority or 
international legal basis to conduct the strikes. 
(7) Section 1013 of the Department of State 
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 
U.S.C. 1546a), provides that any joint resolution or 
bill to require the removal of United States Armed 
Forces engaged in hostilities without a declaration of 
war or specific statutory authorization shall be con-
sidered in accordance with the expedited procedures 
of section 601(b) of the International Security and 
Arms Control Export Act of 1976. 
(8) Congress is resolved to provide resources 
and authorities to the executive branch to prevent 
and mitigate drug and narcotics trafficking into the 
United States, including through the use of intel-
ligence, law enforcement, personnel, and detection 
technology at and between ports of entry and diplo-
matic and military tools as appropriate to deter, pre-
vent, and prosecute illicit drug and narcotics traf-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Nov 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HJ126.IH
HJ126
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HJ 126 IH 
ficking, and will consider providing additional re-
sources and authorities if they are requested by the 
President to combat the spread of illegal drugs. 
(9) On September 4, 2025, the President for-
mally notified Congress of the September 2, 2025, 
strike, noted the potential for further military 
strikes, and stated that ‘‘it is not possible at this 
time to know the full scope and duration of military 
operations that will be necessary’’ to address the 
continuing threat of drug trafficking emanating 
from unspecified countries by unspecified organiza-
tions. 
SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF USE OF ARMED FORCES. 
(a) TERMINATION.—Pursuant to section 1013 of the 
Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 
1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a) and in accordance with 
the provisions of section 601(b) of the International Secu-
rity Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976, 
Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use 
of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against any 
organization designated on or after February 20, 2025, 
as a foreign terrorist organization or specially designated 
global terrorist, any states in which those entities operate, 
or any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, 
trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and other re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Nov 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HJ126.IH
HJ126
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HJ 126 IH 
lated activities, unless explicitly authorized by a declara-
tion of war or specific authorization for use of military 
force. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed as preventing the United States 
from defending itself from an armed attack or threat of 
an imminent armed attack or using the United States 
Armed Forces in support of civil authorities as part of 
authorized counternarcotics operations. The trafficking of 
illegal drugs does not itself constitute such an armed at-
tack or threat of an imminent armed attack. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Nov 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HJ126.IH
HJ126
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB