I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9041 
To amend the National Emergencies Act to provide for a sunset of a national 
emergency declared by the President 2 days after the declaration unless 
Congress enacts a joint resolution affirming such declaration and the 
emergency powers approved for use by the President, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 21, 2020 
Mr. AMASH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees 
on Foreign Affairs, 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 for a 
sunset of a national emergency declared by the President 
2 days after the declaration unless Congress enacts a 
joint resolution affirming such declaration and the emer-
gency powers approved for use by the President, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Emergencies 
Reform Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SUNSET FOR NATIONAL EMERGENCIES WITHOUT 
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. 
(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 emer-
gency, including the specific emergency powers ap-
proved with respect to such emergency, before the 
expiration of the 48-hour period which begins on the 
first day which occurs after such national emergency 
is declared and on which both houses of Congress 
are in session (including in a pro forma session); 
‘‘(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: 
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‘‘(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). 
‘‘(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— 
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‘‘(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-
mination of the emergency or previous renewal of 
the emergency.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION TO NATIONAL EMERGENCIES PRE-
VIOUSLY DECLARED.—A national emergency declared 
under section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50 
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) before the date of the enactment of 
this Act shall be unaffected by the amendments made by 
this Act except that such emergencies shall terminate on 
the date that is 60 days after such date of enactment un-
less the emergency is renewed under section 201(d) of the 
National Emergencies Act, as amended by this Act. 
Æ 
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