(1) Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution of 
the United States grants Congress the sole power to 
declare war. 
(2) President George Washington, in a letter to 
William Moultrie dated August 28, 1793, wrote that 
‘‘[t]he constitution vests the power of declaring war 
in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of im-
portance can be undertaken until after they shall 
have deliberated upon the subject and authorized 
such a measure’’. 
(3) Alexander Hamilton wrote in Examination 
Number 1 of the Hamilton Papers, dated December 
17, 1801, that ‘‘ ‘[t]he Congress shall have the 
power to declare war’; the plain meaning of which is, 
that it is the peculiar and exclusive duty of Con-
gress, when the nation is at peace, to change that 
state into a state of war’’. 
(4) Iran’s support for terrorism presents a seri-
ous threat to the United States and our allies in the 
Middle East, Europe, and Asia. 
(5) Missile tests by Iran have led to escalating 
tensions with Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United 
States, and the United Nations. 
(6) Iran has threatened to shutdown crucial 
maritime lines of communication, putting United 
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States and international naval assets, as well as 
global energy assets, at risk. 
(7) According to the intelligence assessments of 
the United States, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of 
Action curtailed enrichment and prevented proc-
essing of fissile materials by Iran to levels which 
would preclude Iran from developing a nuclear weap-
on. 
(8) The International Atomic Energy Agency 
has repeatedly verified that Iran has continued to 
comply with its nuclear-related obligations as re-
quired by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 
(9) Noncompliance by the United States with 
the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action risks an un-
necessary conflagration with Iran through the use of 
sanctions against both allies and adversaries in the 
region and throughout the world, absent a clear dip-
lomatic path for resolving the crisis. 
(10) A war with Iran would also endanger 
United States assets, personnel, and foreign policy 
objectives throughout the region, including in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and Israel. 
(11) President Trump tweeted that Iran ‘‘[w]ill 
suffer consequences the likes of which few through-
out history have ever suffered before’’. 
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(12) Loose talk of war and belligerent rhetoric 
increases the risk of miscalculation by either side 
and unsettles United States allies. 
(13) Section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution 
(50 U.S.C. 1541(c)) states that ‘‘[t]he constitutional 
powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to 
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’’. 
SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR KINETIC MILI-
TARY OPERATIONS IN OR AGAINST IRAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No funds may be used for kinetic 
military operations in or against Iran except pursuant to 
an Act or joint resolution of Congress specifically author-
izing such use that is enacted after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—The limitation in subsection (a) 
shall not apply to the following: 
(1) Kinetic military operations in response to 
an imminent threat to the United States, as other-
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wise authorized by applicable statutes and joint reso-
lutions. 
(2) The introduction of the United States 
Armed Forces into hostilities in order to repel a sud-
den attack on the United States, its territories or 
possessions, or its Armed Forces. 
(3) The deployment of United States Armed 
Forces to rescue or remove United States citizens or 
personnel. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to relieve the Executive Branch of 
restrictions on the use of force or reporting requirements 
set forth in the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 
et seq.). 
Æ 
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