Title: No War Against Iran Act
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
No War Against Iran Act
This bill prohibits the obligation or expenditure of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran unless Congress has either declared war or enacted specific statutory authorization for such use.
An exception is made for a presidential exercise of power to introduce Armed Forces into hostilities (or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated) when there is a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States.
The bill further states that no prior authorizations of military force (e.g., against Iraq) may be construed to authorize the use of military force against Iran.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5543 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5543

 To prohibit the use of funds for unauthorized military force against 
                     Iran, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 2020

   Mr. Khanna (for himself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. 
  Schiff, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Crow, Mr. Brown of 
     Maryland, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Mr. Ted Lieu of 
   California, Ms. Haaland, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Pocan, Mr. 
   Gallego, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Omar, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. 
DeFazio, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Pressley, Ms. 
Norton, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Tonko, 
  Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Moore, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Evans, Mr. 
    Welch, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Johnson of 
Georgia, Mr. Pallone, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Himes, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. 
Blumenauer, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Spanberger, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Cisneros) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 
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 the use of funds for unauthorized military force against 
                     Iran, 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 ``No War Against Iran Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF UNAUTHORIZED MILITARY FORCE IN OR AGAINST IRAN.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The acquisition by the Government of Iran of a nuclear 
        weapon would pose a grave threat to international peace and 
        stability and the national security of the United States and 
        United States allies, including Israel.
            (2) The Government of Iran is a leading state sponsor of 
        terrorism, continues to materially support the regime of Bashar 
        al-Assad, and is responsible for ongoing gross violations of 
        the human rights of the people of Iran.
            (3) Article I of the United States Constitution requires 
        the President to obtain authorization from Congress before 
        engaging in war with Iran.
    (b) Clarification of Current Law.--Nothing in the Authorization for 
Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note), the 
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 
(Public Law 107-243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note), or any other provision of 
law enacted before the date of the enactment of this Act may be 
construed to provide authorization for the use of military force 
against Iran.
    (c) Prohibition of Unauthorized Military Force in or Against 
Iran.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no 
        Federal funds may be obligated or expended for any use of 
        military force in or against Iran unless Congress has--
                    (A) declared war; or
                    (B) enacted specific statutory authorization for 
                such use of military force after the date of the 
                enactment of this Act that meets the requirements of 
                the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).
            (2) Exception.--The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall 
        not apply to a use of military force that is consistent with 
        section (2)(c) of the War Powers Resolution.
    (d) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed--
            (1) to prevent the President from using necessary and 
        appropriate force to defend United States allies and partners 
        if Congress enacts specific statutory authorization for such 
        use of force consistent with the requirements of the War Powers 
        Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.);
            (2) to relieve the executive branch of restrictions on the 
        use of force, reporting, or consultation requirements set forth 
        in the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); or
            (3) to authorize the use of military force.
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