Title: Reclamation of War Powers Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Reclamation of War Powers Act
This bill prohibits funds made available for the U.S. Armed Forces from being obligated or expended for their introduction into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated 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 attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Armed Forces.
Such funds may be obligated or expended for such introduction by reason of a national emergency created by such an attack or imminent threat only during the 60-day period beginning on such date of their introduction.
It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or joint resolution that would make funds available in violation of these provisions.
The President shall, in the case of a declaration of war or specific authorization for such introduction of the Armed Forces, submit to Congress a report on:
The President shall report in the case of an introduction of the Armed Forces by reason of such a national emergency.
The bill sets timetables for such reports.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1448 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1448

 To prohibit funds available for the United States Armed Forces to be 
    obligated or expended for introduction of the Armed Forces into 
                  hostilities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 2017

Mr. Himes (for himself, Mr. Welch, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Jones, 
Mr. Schrader, and Miss Rice of New York) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 
  to the Committees on Armed Services, 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 prohibit funds available for the United States Armed Forces to be 
    obligated or expended for introduction of the Armed Forces into 
                  hostilities, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted 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 ``Reclamation of War Powers Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE AND POLICY.

    (a) It is the purpose of this Act to fulfill the intent of the 
Framers of the Constitution of the United States and ensure that the 
collective judgment of both Congress and the President will apply to 
the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or 
into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly 
indicated by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces 
in hostilities or in such situations.
    (b) Under article I, section 8, of the Constitution, it is 
specifically provided that Congress shall have 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 Constitution in the 
Government of the United States, or in any department or officer 
thereof.
    (c) The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-
Chief to deploy United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into 
situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly 
indicated by the circumstances, may be exercised only pursuant to--
            (1) a declaration of war;
            (2) specific statutory authorization; or
            (3) a national emergency created by attack or imminent 
        threat of attack upon the United States, its territories or 
        possessions, or its armed forces.

SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) Limitation.--
            (1) In general.--No funds available for the United States 
        Armed Forces may be obligated or expended for introduction of 
        the Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where 
        imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the 
        circumstances, in the absence of--
                    (A) a declaration of war;
                    (B) specific statutory authorization; or
                    (C) a national emergency created by an attack or 
                imminent threat of attack upon the United States, its 
                territories or possessions, or the Armed Forces.
            (2) Additional limitation relating to national emergency.--
        Funds available for the United States Armed Forces may be 
        obligated or expended for introduction of the Armed Forces into 
        hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in 
        hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, by 
        reason of a national emergency created by an attack or imminent 
        threat of attack upon the United States, its territories or 
        possessions, or the Armed Forces only during the 60-day period 
        beginning on such date of introduction of the Armed Forces.
    (b) Prohibition on Consideration of Bill or Joint Resolution in 
Violation of Subsection (a).--
            (1) In general.--It shall not be in order in the House of 
        Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or joint 
        resolution that would make funds available in violation of 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Enactment as exercise of rulemaking power of house of 
        representatives and senate.--This subsection is enacted by 
        Congress--
                    (A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the 
                House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, 
                and as such are deemed a part of the rules of each 
                House, respectively, and such procedures supersede 
                other rules only to the extent that they are 
                inconsistent with such other rules; and
                    (B) with full recognition of the constitutional 
                right of either House to change the rules (so far as 
                relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, 
                in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the 
                case of any other rule of that House.

SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Report Relating to Declaration of War or Specific Statutory 
Authorization.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall, in the case of a 
        declaration of war or specific authorization for introduction 
        of the United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into 
        situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly 
        indicated by the circumstances, submit to Congress a report on 
        the following:
                    (A) An analysis of the threat to be countered by 
                the use of the Armed Forces.
                    (B) The specific objectives and justification for 
                such objectives to be achieved by the use of the Armed 
                Forces.
                    (C) A description of the scope and duration, cost, 
                and likelihood of success of the use of the Armed 
                Forces.
            (2) Deadlines.--The initial report required under paragraph 
        (1) shall be submitted to Congress not later than 90 days after 
        the date of the enactment of a bill or joint resolution that 
        provides for a declaration of war or specific authorization for 
        introduction of the United States Armed Forces as described in 
        paragraph (1), and an update of such report shall be submitted 
        to Congress every 90 days thereafter until the United States 
        Armed Forces are no longer engaged in hostilities or situations 
        as described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Report Relating to National Emergency.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall, in the case of 
        introduction of the United States Armed Forces into 
        hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in 
        hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, by 
        reason of a national emergency created by an attack or imminent 
        threat of attack upon the United States, its territories or 
        possessions, or the Armed Forces, submit to Congress a report 
        on the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Deadline.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall be submitted to Congress not later than 48 hours after 
        introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or 
        into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is 
        clearly indicated by the circumstances, as described in 
        paragraph (1), and an update of such report shall be submitted 
        to Congress not later than 60 days after the date of submission 
        of the initial report.

SEC. 5. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be 
construed--
            (1) to alter the constitutional authority of Congress or of 
        the President, or the provisions of existing treaties; or
            (2) to apply to those activities approved and reported 
        pursuant to section 503 of the National Security Act of 1947 
        (50 U.S.C. 3093).
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