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]
[S. 3159 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3159

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 8, 2020

   Mr. Sanders (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
   Wyden, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Warren, Ms. 
 Cantwell, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Harris, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To prohibit the use of funds for 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 makes the following findings:
            (1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under 
        article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution.
            (2) Congress has not declared war against Iran nor has 
        Congress enacted a specific statutory authorization for the use 
        of force against Iran.
            (3) Article I, section 9 of the United States Constitution 
        vests Congress with the sole authority over Federal 
        expenditures and states, ``No Money shall be drawn from the 
        Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.''.
    (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 (50 U.S.C. 1541(c)).
    (d) Rules of Construction.--
            (1) Self-defense.--Nothing in this Act may be construed 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) War powers resolution requirements.--Nothing in this 
        Act may be construed 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.).
            (3) No authority for use of military force.--Nothing in 
        this Act may be construed to authorize the use of military 
        force.
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