IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 51 
To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities that 
have not been authorized by Congress. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 
Ms. OMAR (for herself, Mr. CASAR, and Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from 
hostilities that have not been authorized by Congress. 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), 
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) Section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution 
(50 U.S.C. 1541(c)) states that ‘‘the constitutional 
powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to 
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introduce United States Armed Forces into hos-
tilities, or into situations where imminent involve-
ment in hostilities is clearly indicated by the cir-
cumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a 
declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authoriza-
tion, or (3) a national emergency created by attack 
upon the United States, its territories or posses-
sions, or its armed forces.’’. 
(3) Congress has not declared war upon, nor 
enacted a specific statutory authorization for use of 
military force against, the Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela, nor any transnational criminal organiza-
tions designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations 
or Specially Designated Global Terrorists since Feb-
ruary 20, 2025. 
(4) The designation of a group, entity, or indi-
vidual as a Foreign Terrorist Organization or Spe-
cially Designated Global Terrorist provides no legal 
authority for the President to direct the use of mili-
tary force against members of designated organiza-
tions or any foreign state. 
(5) Neither 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 nor 
the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against 
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Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 50 
U.S.C. 1541 note) provides any statutory authority 
for the President to direct the use of military force 
against Venezuela or any transnational criminal or-
ganizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organi-
zations or Specially Designated Global Terrorists 
since February 20, 2025. 
(6) Regarding Venezuelan jets flying near U.S. 
warships dispatched to the South Caribbean Sea, 
President Trump on September 5, 2025, stated that 
such planes were ‘‘going to be in trouble,’’ and if a 
flyover reoccurs, he told a U.S. general, ‘‘You have 
a choice of doing anything you want,’’ including, 
should such planes ‘‘put us in a dangerous situation, 
they will be shot down,’’ indicating the introduction 
of U.S. forces into imminent hostilities. 
(7) No armed attack on the United States by 
Venezuela or any transnational criminal organiza-
tions designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations 
or Special Designated Global Terrorist since Feb-
ruary 20th, 2025 has occurred, the trafficking of il-
legal drugs does not itself constitute such an armed 
attack or threat of an imminent armed attack. 
(8) The strike on the vessel in the Southern 
Caribbean on September 2, 2025, the subsequent 
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strikes in September 2025, and the positioning of 
U.S. warships and aircraft in the Caribbean and 
President Trump’s statements on the use of force 
without prior statutory authorization, fall within the 
meaning of section 4(a)(1) of the War Powers Reso-
lution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)(1)), constituting either 
hostilities or a situation where imminent involvement 
in hostilities is clearly indicated by the cir-
cumstances into which United States Armed Forces 
have been introduced. 
(9) 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-
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.’’. 
(10) In its report to Congress on the strike 
dated September 4, 2025, pursuant to section 4(a) 
of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)), 
President Trump stated, ‘‘It is not possible at this 
time to know the full scope and duration of military 
operations that will be necessary. United States 
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forces remain postured to carry out further military 
operations.’’. 
(11) The question of whether United States 
forces should be engaged in hostilities against Ven-
ezuela or any transnational criminal organizations 
designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations or 
Specially Designated Global Terrorists since Feb-
ruary 20, 2025, should be answered following a full 
briefing to Congress and the American public of the 
issues at stake, a public debate in Congress, and a 
congressional vote as contemplated by the Constitu-
tion. 
SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF THE USE OF UNITED STATES 
FORCES FOR HOSTILITIES. 
(a) TERMINATION.—Pursuant to section 5(c) of the 
War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress 
hereby directs the President to terminate the use of 
United States Armed Forces for hostilities against the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela or 
any part of its government or military. 
(2) Any transnational criminal organizations 
designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations or 
Specially Designated Global Terrorists since Feb-
ruary 20, 2025. 
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Unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or spe-
cific authorization for use of military force after the date 
of the adoption of this concurrent resolution. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to prevent the United States from 
repelling sudden attacks or engaging in self-defense con-
sistent with the legal requirements outlined in section 2(c) 
of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541(c)). The 
trafficking of illegal drugs does not itself constitute such 
an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack 
under section 2(c)(3) of the War Powers Resolution (50 
U.S.C. 1541(c)(3)). 
Æ 
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