IA 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 29 
To amend the War Powers Resolution, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 8, 2021 
Mr. DEFAZIO (for himself, Mr. RUSH, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. BLU-
MENAUER, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. BEYER, Ms. 
SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. JACKSON LEE, and Mr. GRIJALVA) submitted the fol-
lowing 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 con-
cerned 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To amend the War Powers Resolution, and for other 
purposes. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘War Powers Amend-
ments of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) In response to unconstitutional executive 
branch actions that introduced United States Forces 
into hostilities without congressional authorization, 
Congress passed the War Powers Resolution (50 
U.S.C. 1541 et seq.) to clarify and strengthen its 
constitutional war powers authorities. 
(2) The War Powers Resolution remains a cur-
rent and constitutionally valid law. The War Powers 
Resolution includes the authority of Congress to re-
move United States Armed Forces from unauthor-
ized engagement in hostilities through adoption of a 
concurrent resolution or passage of a joint resolu-
tion. 
(3) While Congress possesses robust war powers 
authorities under the Constitution and the War 
Powers Resolution, in many cases the executive 
branch has disregarded these authorities by intro-
ducing United States Forces into hostilities without 
congressional authorization. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this joint resolution 
is to— 
(1) reassert Congress’ constitutional war pow-
ers authorities, further strengthen the War Powers 
Resolution, and end the current ‘‘forever wars’’ of 
the United States; and 
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(2) prevent the executive branch from intro-
ducing United States Forces into hostilities, with ex-
ceptions in the case of an armed attack upon or im-
minent threat to the United States, its Forces, or its 
citizens overseas, without authorization from Con-
gress. 
SEC. 3. REVISION OF WAR POWERS RESOLUTION. 
The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541–1548) 
is amended by striking out all after the resolving clause 
and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSE; CONGRESSIONAL 
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY. 
‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE.—This joint resolution may be 
cited as the ‘War Powers Resolution’. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this joint resolu-
tion to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution 
of the United States and ensure that the collective judg-
ment of both the Congress and the President will apply 
to— 
‘‘(1) the introduction of United States Forces 
into hostilities; and 
‘‘(2) the continued use of United States Forces 
in hostilities. 
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‘‘(c) CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.— 
Among the powers granted to the Congress by the Con-
stitution are— 
‘‘(1) the power to declare war; 
‘‘(2) the power of the purse (‘No Money shall 
be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of 
Appropriations made by Law’); and 
‘‘(3) the power to make all laws necessary and 
proper for carrying into execution not only its own 
powers but also all other powers vested by the Con-
stitution in the Government of the United States, or 
in any department or officer thereof. 
‘‘SEC. 2. EMERGENCY USES OF UNITED STATES FORCES IN 
HOSTILITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—United States Forces may be in-
troduced into hostilities only as follows: 
‘‘(1) DECLARATION OF WAR.—Pursuant to a 
declaration of war by the Congress. 
‘‘(2) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with a 
specific statutory authorization described in 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) SPECIFIC
STATUTORY
AUTHORIZA-
TION DESCRIBED.—A specific statutory author-
ization for introduction of United States Forces 
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‘‘(aa) the threat or mission 
or objectives defined in clause 
(ii)(I) or the list of foreign coun-
tries identified in such clause is 
to be expanded; 
‘‘(bb) the parameters de-
fined in clause (ii)(II) are to be 
expanded; or 
‘‘(cc) the list of foreign 
countries or organized armed 
groups 
identified 
in 
clause 
(ii)(III) is to be expanded; and 
‘‘(II) which shall include updated 
information to the information re-
quired by clause (ii); and 
‘‘(iv) provide for termination of the 
authorization for such use of United States 
Forces not later than the date that is 2 
years after the date of the enactment of 
such authorization unless the Congress en-
acts a joint resolution providing a subse-
quent specific authorization for such use of 
United States Forces. 
‘‘(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing 
in subparagraph (B) may be construed to au-
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thorize United States Forces to engage in hos-
tilities against any foreign country or organized 
armed group that is not clearly and specifically 
identified in clause (ii)(III) of such subpara-
graph. 
‘‘(3) ARMED ATTACK ON UNITED STATES.—To 
the extent necessary and proportionate— 
‘‘(A) to repel an armed attack upon the 
United States; or 
‘‘(B) to forestall the direct and imminent 
threat of such an armed attack. 
‘‘(4) ARMED
ATTACK
ON
UNITED
STATES 
FORCES.—To the extent necessary and propor-
tionate— 
‘‘(A) to repel an armed attack against 
United States Forces located outside the United 
States; or 
‘‘(B) to forestall the direct and imminent 
threat of such an armed attack. 
‘‘(5) EVACUATION
OF
UNITED
STATES
CITI-
ZENS.—To the extent necessary to protect United 
States citizens or nationals while evacuating them as 
rapidly as possible from a situation, outside the 
United States, that directly and imminently threat-
ens their lives or liberty and— 
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‘‘(A) the threatened deprivation of life or 
liberty is unlawful; and 
‘‘(B) in a case where the source of the 
threat is within a foreign country, the threat is 
supported by the government of that country or 
the government of that country is unable or un-
willing to secure the release of the United 
States citizens or nationals. 
The President shall make every effort to terminate 
any such threat through peaceful means without 
using United States Forces. Before using United 
States Forces to protect United States citizens or 
nationals being evacuated from a foreign country in 
accordance with this paragraph, the President shall, 
where possible, obtain the consent of the government 
of that country. 
‘‘(b) CONDITIONS ON EMERGENCY USE OF UNITED 
STATES FORCES.—Any use of United States Forces in ac-
cordance with paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of subsection 
(a)— 
‘‘(1) is subject to the requirements of sections 
3, 4, and 5; and 
‘‘(2) shall be limited, in terms of United States 
Forces which are used and the manner in which they 
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are used, to such use as is essential in order to 
achieve the purpose described in that paragraph. 
‘‘(c) FUNDING LIMITATION.—Funds appropriated or 
otherwise made available under any law may not be obli-
gated or expended for any introduction, other than an in-
troduction described in subsection (a), of United States 
Forces into hostilities. 
‘‘SEC. 3. CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND 
CONGRESS. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSULTATION.—(1) The 
President, in every possible instance, shall consult with the 
Congress before United States Forces are introduced into 
hostilities in accordance with paragraph (3), (4), or (5) 
of section 2(a). After every such introduction, the Presi-
dent shall consult regularly with the Congress until United 
States Forces are no longer in hostilities. 
‘‘(2) The President, in every possible instance, shall 
consult with the Congress— 
‘‘(A) before United States Forces are intro-
duced into a foreign country while equipped for com-
bat, except for deployments which relate solely to 
supply, replacement, repair, or training of such 
forces; or 
‘‘(B) before United States Forces are intro-
duced into a foreign country in which there are al-
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ready United States Forces equipped for combat if 
such introduction would substantially enlarge the 
number of United States Forces equipped for com-
bat located in that country or otherwise substantially 
increase the military capabilities of such forces. 
‘‘(b) 
EXECUTIVE-LEGISLATIVE
CONSULTATIVE 
GROUP.—The consultation required by subsection (a) 
shall include participation by— 
‘‘(1) the President, the Secretary of State, the 
Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central Intel-
ligence, the Director of National Intelligence, and 
those senior executive branch officials designated by 
the President; 
‘‘(2) the Speaker, the Minority leader and Ma-
jority leader, the Majority whip and Minority whip, 
the chair and ranking member of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, the chair and ranking member of 
the Committee on Armed Services, the chair and 
ranking member of the Permanent Select Committee 
on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and 
any other Members of the House of Representatives 
designated by the Speaker or the Minority leader; 
and 
‘‘(3) the Majority and Minority leader, the Ma-
jority whip and Minority whip, the chair and rank-
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ing member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
the chair and ranking member of the Committee on 
Armed Services, the chair and ranking member of 
the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, 
and any Senator designated by the Majority or Mi-
nority leader. 
‘‘(c) WHAT CONSULTATION REQUIRES.—In order to 
satisfy the consultation requirement of this section, the 
President must ask Members of Congress for their advice 
and opinions before the decision is made to introduce 
United States Forces, and in no event later than 48 hours 
prior to introduction of United States Forces. Such con-
sultation requires that all information relevant to the situ-
ation must be made available to the Members of Congress 
being consulted. The consultation requirement of this sec-
tion is not met, however, if the Congress is merely in-
formed about the situation. 
‘‘SEC. 4. REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS. 
‘‘(a) REPORTING
REQUIREMENT.—The President 
shall submit the report described in subsection (b) no later 
than 48 hours after United States Forces are introduced 
into hostilities in accordance with paragraph (3), (4), or 
(5) of section 2(a). 
‘‘(b) DESCRIPTION OF REPORT REQUIRED.—The re-
port required by subsection (a) is a written report sub-
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mitted by the President to the Speaker and Minority 
Leader of the House of Representatives, the President pro 
tempore and Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Exec-
utive-Legislative consultative group described in section 
3(b) on the same calendar day, setting forth— 
‘‘(1) the circumstances necessitating the intro-
duction of United States Forces; 
‘‘(2) the specific constitutional and legislative 
authority under which such introduction took place; 
‘‘(3) the estimated scope and duration of the 
hostilities or the involvement of United States 
Forces, as the case may be, and an identification of 
each foreign country and organized armed group 
against which United States Forces are engaged in 
hostilities, including the foreign countries and geo-
graphic locations of such hostilities; and 
‘‘(4) the estimated cost of the hostilities or the 
involvement of United States Forces, including the 
cost of any other resources involved in supporting 
such Forces. 
Any such report shall state expressly that it is being sub-
mitted pursuant to this section. 
‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.—The President 
shall provide such other information as the Congress may 
request in the fulfillment of its constitutional responsibil-
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ities with respect to committing the Nation to war and 
to the use of United States Forces abroad. The President 
shall provide such information no later than 14 days after 
the date on which the President receives such request from 
the Congress. 
‘‘(d) CONTINUING REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Whenever United States 
Forces are introduced into hostilities the President 
shall, so long as United States Forces continue to be 
involved in those hostilities, report to the Congress 
periodically on the continued application of the mat-
ters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of 
subsection (b), including the status of such hos-
tilities, the scope and estimated duration of such 
hostilities, and the estimated cost of such hostilities 
or the involvement of United States Forces, but in 
no event shall the President report to the Congress 
less often than once every 30 days. 
‘‘(2) FORM.—The report required by this sec-
tion, and particularly the matters described in sub-
section (b)(3) of the report, shall be submitted in 
unclassified form. The report may contain a classi-
fied annex. 
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‘‘SEC. 5. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION WITH RESPECT TO HOS-
TILITIES. 
‘‘(a) RECEIPT OF SECTION 4(a) REPORT.—Each re-
port submitted pursuant to section 4(a) shall be referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives and to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
of the Senate for appropriate action. If, when the report 
is transmitted, the Congress has adjourned sine die or has 
adjourned for any period in excess of three calendar days, 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
President pro tempore of the Senate, if they deem it advis-
able (or if they are petitioned by at least 30 percent of 
the membership of their respective Houses) shall jointly 
request the President to convene the Congress in order 
that it may consider the report and take appropriate ac-
tion pursuant to this section. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENT FOR SPECIFIC STATUTORY AU-
THORIZATION FOR CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Within 30 calendar days 
after United States Forces are introduced into hos-
tilities in accordance with paragraph (3), (4), or (5) 
of section 2(a), the President shall remove United 
States Forces from those hostilities unless the Con-
gress— 
‘‘(A) has declared war; 
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‘‘(B) has enacted a joint resolution pro-
viding specific authorization for such use of 
United States Forces as described in paragraph 
(2); or 
‘‘(C) is unable to meet as a result of an 
armed attack upon the United States. 
This 30-day period shall be extended for not more 
than an additional 15 days if the President deter-
mines and certifies to the Congress in writing that 
unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety 
of United States Forces requires the continued use 
of United States Forces in the course of bringing 
about their prompt removal from hostilities. 
‘‘(2) JOINT RESOLUTION DESCRIBED.—A joint 
resolution providing specific authorization for such 
use of United States Forces described in this para-
graph shall— 
‘‘(A) provide for authorization of the use of 
necessary and appropriate military force with 
respect to such use of United States Forces; 
‘‘(B)(i) clearly define the threat that neces-
sitates use of such military force, the mission 
and objectives that use of such military force is 
authorized to achieve, and identify each foreign 
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country in which such military force is author-
ized; 
‘‘(ii) clearly define the parameters for 
when use of such military force is no longer 
necessary or appropriate; and 
‘‘(iii) clearly and specifically identify each 
foreign country and organized armed group 
with respect to which such military force will be 
used; 
‘‘(C) require the President to seek from 
the Congress a subsequent specific statutory 
authorization for introduction of United States 
Forces into hostilities— 
‘‘(i) if— 
‘‘(I) the threat or mission or ob-
jectives 
defined 
in 
subparagraph 
(B)(i) or the list of foreign countries 
identified in such subparagraph is to 
be expanded; 
‘‘(II) the parameters defined in 
subparagraph (B)(ii) are to be ex-
panded; or 
‘‘(III) the list of foreign countries 
or organized armed groups identified 
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in subparagraph (B)(iii) is to be ex-
panded; and 
‘‘(ii) which shall include updated in-
formation to the information required by 
subparagraph (B); and 
‘‘(D) provide for termination of the author-
ization for such use of United States Forces not 
later than the date that is 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of such authorization un-
less the Congress enacts a joint resolution pro-
viding a subsequent specific authorization for 
such use of United States Forces. 
‘‘(c) FUNDING LIMITATION.—Unless one of the num-
bered paragraphs of subsection (b) applies, after the expi-
ration of the period specified in that subsection (including 
any extension of that period in accordance with that sub-
section), funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
under any law may not be obligated or expended to con-
tinue the involvement of United States Forces in the hos-
tilities. This subsection does not, however, prohibit the use 
of funds to remove United States Forces from hostilities. 
‘‘SEC. 6. CONGRESSIONAL EXPEDITED PROCEDURES. 
‘‘(a) RESOLUTIONS SUBJECT TO PROCEDURES.—As 
used in this section, the term ‘privileged resolution’ means 
a joint resolution— 
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