I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 383 
To amend the War Powers Resolution to limit the use of funds for 
introduction of the Armed Forces into hostilities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 23, 2013 
Mr. GIBSON (for himself, Mr. AMASH, Mr. BENISHEK, Mr. BROOKS of Ala-
bama, Mr. COFFMAN, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. 
FORTENBERRY, Ms. FOXX, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. JOHNSON 
of Ohio, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. MILLER of 
Florida, Mr. MULVANEY, Mr. NUGENT, Mr. REED, Mr. RIBBLE, Mr. 
ROONEY, Mr. ROSS, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. 
SMITH of Washington, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, and Mr. STIVERS) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on For-
eign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the War Powers Resolution to limit the use of 
funds for introduction of the Armed Forces into hos-
tilities, 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 ‘‘War Powers Reform 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE AND POLICY. 
Section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 
U.S.C. 1541(c)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘are exercised’’ and inserting ‘‘may be exer-
cised’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting after ‘‘at-
tack’’ the following: ‘‘or imminent threat of attack’’. 
SEC. 3. CONSULTATION AND REPORTING. 
Section 3 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
1542) is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘AND REPORT-
ING’’ after ‘‘CONSULTATION’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) CONSULTATION.—The President’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) REPORTING.—The President in every possible 
instance shall submit to Congress before introducing 
United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situa-
tions where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly 
indicated by the circumstances a report, in writing, setting 
forth the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities 
or involvement.’’. 
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SEC. 4. REPORTING. 
Section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution (50 
U.S.C. 1543(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or a specific 
statutory authorization’’ after ‘‘a declaration of war’’. 
SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR INTRODUCTION 
OF ARMED FORCES INTO HOSTILITIES. 
The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking sections 5, 6, and 7; 
(2) by redesignating sections 8, 9, and 10 as 
sections 6, 7, and 8, respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after section 4 the following: 
‘‘LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS 
‘‘SEC. 5. (a) No funds available for the United States 
Armed Forces may be obligated or expended for introduc-
tion of the Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations 
where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indi-
cated by the circumstances, in the absence of a declaration 
of war, specific statutory authorization, or a national 
emergency created by an attack or imminent threat of at-
tack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, 
or the Armed Forces. 
‘‘(b) It shall not be in order in the House of Rep-
resentatives or the Senate to consider any bill or joint res-
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olution that would make funds available in violation of 
subsection (a).’’. 
Æ 
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