Title: War Powers Reform Resolution
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
War Powers Reform Resolution
This joint resolution repeals certain authorizations for the use of military force and provides specific requirements for any future such authorization to receive expedited consideration.
Specifically, the bill repeals the authorizations for the use of miltary force enacted in 2002 against Iraq and in 2001 in response to the September 11 terror attacks.
To receive expedited consideration, a bill or resolution that is authorizing, narrowing, or repealing the use of military force must provide
The bill also establishes an expedited procedure for Congress to consider such a narrowing or repeal, and it prohibits the use of appropriations to support military force in hostilities outside the parameters of an authorization.
Lastly, the resolution requires the President, when requesting an authorization for the use of military force, to provide a comprehensive justification for such request by including (1) the nations, organizations, and forces covered; (2) the countries and subdivisions of such countries covered; and (3) the duration of the request.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 83 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 83

    To amend the War Powers Resolution to improve requirements and 
limitations in connection with authorizations for use of military force 
   and narrowings and repeals of such authorizations, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 24, 2020

 Mr. Brown of Maryland submitted the following 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 concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
    To amend the War Powers Resolution to improve requirements and 
limitations in connection with authorizations for use of military force 
   and narrowings and repeals of such authorizations, 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 joint resolution may be cited as the ``War Powers Reform 
Resolution''.

SEC. 2. JOINT RESOLUTIONS AND BILLS AUTHORIZING, NARROWING, OR 
              REPEALING USE OF MILITARY FORCE.

    The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 5 the following new section:

``joint resolutions and bills authorizing, narrowing, or repealing use 
                           of military force

    ``Sec. 5A. (a) A joint resolution or bill introduced after the date 
of the enactment of this section pursuant to section 5(b) for a purpose 
specified in that section shall be eligible for expedited consideration 
in accordance with section 6(a) if the joint resolution or bill sets 
forth only the following:
            ``(1) The specific strategic objective of the military 
        force authorized for use by the joint resolution or bill.
            ``(2) A specification that the military force authorized 
        for use by the joint resolution or bill is necessary, 
        appropriate, and proportional to the purpose of the joint 
        resolution or bill.
            ``(3) A specific naming of the nations, organizations, or 
        forces engaged in active hostilities against the United States, 
        its territories or possessions, or United States Armed Forces 
        against which use of military force is authorized by the joint 
        resolution or bill, which may not vest in or delegate to any 
        official in the Executive Branch authority to specify any other 
        nation, organization, or force against which use of military 
        force is authorized by the joint resolution or bill.
            ``(4) A specification of the country or countries, or 
        subdivision of a country or subdivisions of countries, in which 
        military force is authorized for use by the joint resolution or 
        bill, which may not vest in or delegate to any official in the 
        Executive Branch authority to specify any other country or 
        subdivision of a country in which use of military force is 
        authorized by the joint resolution or bill.
            ``(5) A specification to a date certain of the duration of 
        the authorization for use of military force in the joint 
        resolution or bill, which may not exceed two years from the 
        date of the enactment of the joint resolution or bill.
    ``(b) A joint resolution or bill introduced after the date of the 
enactment of this section to narrow a Joint Resolution or Act 
authorizing use of military force that is in effect on the date of the 
introduction of the joint resolution or bill shall be eligible for 
expedited consideration in accordance with section 6(a) if the joint 
resolution or bill sets forth only a narrowing or other limitation of 
the Joint Resolution or Act as follows:
            ``(1) To narrow the specific strategic objective of the 
        military force authorized by the Joint Resolution or Act.
            ``(2) To strike one or more named nations, organizations, 
        or forces against which use of military force is authorized by 
        the Joint Resolution or Act, and to specify a date certain for 
        the effective date of such strike.
            ``(3) To strike one or more countries or subdivisions of a 
        country in which military force is authorized for use by the 
        Joint Resolution or Act, and to specify a date certain for the 
        effective date of such strike.
            ``(4) To reduce the duration of the authorization for use 
        of military force in the Joint Resolution or Act to an earlier 
        date certain specified in the joint resolution or bill.
    ``(c) A joint resolution or bill introduced after the date of the 
enactment of this section only to repeal one or more Joint Resolutions 
or Acts authorizing use of military force that is or are in effect on 
the date of the introduction of the joint resolution or bill shall be 
eligible for expedited consideration in accordance with section 6(a).
    ``(d) A joint resolution or bill introduced as described in 
subsection (a) or (b) may also repeal any Joint Resolution or Act 
authorizing use of military force that is in effect on the date of the 
introduction of the joint resolution or bill without losing eligibility 
for expedited consideration in accordance with section 6(a) as 
otherwise provided in such subsection.''.

SEC. 3. EXPEDITED PROCEDURES FOR JOINT RESOLUTIONS AND BILLS 
              AUTHORIZING, LIMITING, OR REPEALING USE OF MILITARY 
              FORCE.

    Section 6(a) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1545(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(a)'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1) of 
        this section--
                    (A) by striking ``introduced pursuant to section 
                5(b) at least thirty calendar days before the 
                expiration of the sixty-day period specified in such 
                section'' and inserting ``introduced pursuant to 
                section 5(b) for purposes of section 5A(a) at least 
                thirty calendar days before the expiration of the 
                sixty-day period specified in section 5(b)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``sixty-day period specified in 
                such section'' and inserting ``sixty-day period 
                specified in section 5(b)''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2)(A) Any joint resolution or bill introduced pursuant to 
subsection (b) or (c) of section 5A shall be referred to the committee 
provided for in paragraph (1), and such committee shall report one such 
joint resolution or bill, together with its recommendations, not later 
than twenty-four calendar days before the expiration of the thirty-day 
period beginning on the date of the introduction of such joint 
resolution or bill, unless such House shall otherwise determine by the 
yeas and nays.
    ``(B) In the case of any joint resolution or bill described in 
subparagraph (A), any reference in this section to the sixty-day period 
specified in section 5(b) shall be deemed to refer instead to the 
thirty-day period beginning on the date of the introduction of such 
joint resolution or bill.''.

SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE WAR POWERS 
              RESOLUTION OR OTHER APPLICABLE RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING 
              USE OF MILITARY FORCE.

    The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 9 and 10 as sections 10 and 
        11, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after section 8 the following new section 
        9:

                      ``limitation on use of funds

    ``Sec. 9. Appropriated funds may not be obligated or expended for 
the introduction or use of United States Armed Forces into or in 
hostilities or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is 
clearly indicated by the circumstances in contravention of the 
provisions of this joint resolution, or another Joint Resolution or Act 
authorizing such introduction or use (if applicable).''.

SEC. 5. JUSTIFICATION IN REQUESTS FOR AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF 
              MILITARY FORCE AND IN REPORTS ON USE OF MILITARY FORCE.

    Section 4 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) If in submitting a report under subsection (a) or in 
connection with an introduction of the United States Armed Forces as 
described in that subsection the President also submits to Congress a 
request for an authorization for use of the United States Armed Forces 
in the hostilities or situation concerned, the President shall include 
with such request a comprehensive justification for such request, 
including a justification for--
            ``(A) the nations, organizations, and forces covered by 
        such request;
            ``(B) the countries and subdivisions of countries covered 
        by such request; and
            ``(C) the duration of the request.
    ``(2) Each report under subsection (c) on the status of hostilities 
or a situation shall include a current comprehensive justification for 
use of the United States Armed Forces in the hostilities or situation, 
including a justification for--
            ``(A) the continuing use of the United States Armed Forces 
        against the particular nations, organizations, and forces 
        concerned;
            ``(B) the continuing use of the United States Armed Forces 
        in the particular countries and subdivisions of countries 
        concerned; and
            ``(C) the currently anticipated duration of the use of the 
        United States Armed Forces in the hostilities or situation.
    ``(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any justification 
submitted pursuant to this subsection shall be in unclassified form to 
the greatest extent practicable, including in the specification of the 
countries or subdivisions of countries concerned and in the duration or 
anticipated duration concerned, but may include a classified annex (and 
then only to the extent required to protect the national security 
interests of the United States).
    ``(B) A request described in paragraph (1) shall list or specify 
the names of the nations, organizations, and forces covered by such 
request in unclassified form.''.

SEC. 6. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE.

    (a) Authorization for Use of Military Force.--The Authorization for 
Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is 
repealed.
    (b) Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution 
of 2002.--The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq 
Resolution of 2002 (Public law 107-243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is 
repealed.
    (c) Availability of Funds for Safe Removal of Armed Forces From 
Hostilities.--Notwithstanding the repeal by subsections (a) and (b) of 
the Resolutions referred to in such subsections, the President is 
authorized, during the 60-day period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this joint resolution, to obligate and expend appropriated 
funds to safely remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities or 
situations in which use of United States Armed Forces is authorized by 
or conducted pursuant to the Resolutions as of the date of the 
enactment of this joint resolution.
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