I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1720 
To amend the National Emergencies Act to provide that a national emergency 
declared by the President terminates 30 days after the declaration unless 
a joint resolution affirming such declaration is enacted into law, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 13, 2019 
Mr. BIGGS (for himself, Mr. BUCK, and Mr. SENSENBRENNER) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Af-
fairs, and 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 
A BILL 
To amend the National Emergencies Act to provide that 
a national emergency declared by the President termi-
nates 30 days after the declaration unless a joint resolu-
tion affirming such declaration is enacted into law, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Limiting Emergency 
Powers Act of 2019’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:02 Mar 22, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1720.IH
H1720
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON DURATION OF NATIONAL EMER-
GENCY 
WITHOUT 
CONGRESSIONAL 
AP-
PROVAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 202 of the National 
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) Any national emergency declared by the Presi-
dent in accordance with this title shall terminate if— 
‘‘(1) there has not been enacted into law a joint 
resolution affirming the declaration of such national 
emergency before the date that is 30 days after the 
date on which such national emergency is declared; 
‘‘(2) there is enacted into law a joint resolution 
terminating the emergency; or 
‘‘(3) the President issues a proclamation termi-
nating the emergency.’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b)(1) The date on which a national emergency is 
terminated pursuant to subsection (a) shall be the first 
occurrence of any of the following dates: 
‘‘(A) The last date of the period described in 
subsection (a)(1). 
‘‘(B) The date specified in any joint resolution 
referred to in subsection (a)(2). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:02 Mar 22, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1720.IH
H1720
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(C) The date specified in a proclamation by 
the President terminating the emergency as provided 
in subsection (a)(3). 
‘‘(2) Effective on the date of the termination of a na-
tional emergency under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) any amounts reprogrammed or transferred 
under any provision of law with respect to the emer-
gency that remain unobligated on that date shall be 
returned and made available for the purpose for 
which such amounts were appropriated; 
‘‘(B) any contracts entered into under any pro-
vision of law for construction relating to the emer-
gency shall be terminated unless construction com-
menced under the contract before that date; and 
‘‘(C) any powers or authorities exercised by rea-
son of said emergency shall cease to be exercised 
after that date, except that a termination shall not 
affect— 
‘‘(i) any action taken or proceeding pend-
ing not finally concluded or determined on such 
date; 
‘‘(ii) any action or proceeding based on any 
act committed prior to such date; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:02 Mar 22, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1720.IH
H1720
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(iii) any rights or duties that matured or 
penalties that were incurred prior to such 
date.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘or af-
firm’’ after ‘‘terminate’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5) by striking ‘‘, sub-
section (b) of this section,’’; and 
(4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(d) A national emergency declared by the President 
under section 201, affirmed by a joint resolution under 
subsection (a)(1), and not otherwise previously termi-
nated, shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after 
the President transmitted to Congress the proclamation 
declaring the emergency under section 201(a) or Congress 
affirms a previous renewal pursuant to this subsection, 
unless— 
‘‘(1) the President publishes in the Federal 
Register and transmits to Congress an Executive 
order renewing the emergency; and 
‘‘(2) there is enacted into law a joint resolution 
affirming the renewal of the declaration, according 
to the requirements of subsection (c), before the ter-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:02 Mar 22, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1720.IH
H1720
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS