To authorize the use of the Armed Forces of the United States against Iran if Iran commits a serious violation of its commitments or obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hjres-62
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation

Congressional oversight

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

International law and treaties

Iran

Middle East

Military operations and strategy

Nuclear weapons

Sanctions

United Nations

War and emergency powers
Latest action: action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-07-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This joint resolution expresses the sense of Congress that: </p> <ul> <li>the President should be commended for the commitment to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and the willingness to explore a peaceful path to ensure Iran remains free of nuclear weapons; </li> <li>the President and the administration should be commended for exhausting diplomatic means in working with the P5+1 countries to reach the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) agreement with Iran that will ensure that Iran's civilian nuclear program becomes compliant with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) without jeopardizing the capability of the United States and U.S. allies to intervene militarily if such an option becomes necessary; and </li> <li>if the President determines that Iran's nuclear program becomes noncompliant under the JCPA agreement and poses a threat to U.S. national security, then the President should work with Congress to utilize appropriate measures, not limited to military intervention, to eliminate thath threat.</li> </ul> <p>The President is authorized to use the U.S. Armed Forces against Iran to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure if the President: </p> <ul> <li>certifies to Congress that IAEA inspectors have determined that Iran has failed to comply with its JCPA obligations and the President determines that such failure is serious and a threat to U.S. national security; </li> <li>certifies to Congress that the provisions of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to the application of sanctions against Iran have been re-imposed as a result of such failure; and </li> <li>provides to Congress a scope and strategy for the use of the Armed Forces.</li> </ul> <p> Congress declares that this Act is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution, and that nothing in this joint resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.</p> <p>The President shall report to, and consult with, Congress on matters relevant to this joint resolution.</p> <p>Nothing in this joint resolution shall be construed to interfere or violate the President's inherent right to authorize limited military force in self-defense pursuant to the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.</p>

tv_txt: IA 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. J. RES. 62 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2015 Mr. Larson of Connecticut introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs JOINT RESOLUTION To authorize the use of the Armed Forces of the United States against Iran if Iran commits a serious violation of its commitments or obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and for other purposes.

1. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the President should be commended for the unwavering commitment to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and the willingness to explore a peaceful path to ensure Iran remains free of nuclear weapons; (2) the President and the administration should be commended for exhausting diplomatic means in working with the P5+1 countries to reach the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement with Iran that will ensure Iran’s civilian nuclear program finally becomes compliant with the International Atomic Energy Agency under unprecedented new regulations and highly intrusive international inspection without jeopardizing the capability of the United States and United States allies to intervene militarily if such option becomes necessary; and (3) if, at any time, the President determines that Iran’s nuclear program becomes noncompliant under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement and poses a threat to the national security of the United States, then the President should work with Congress to utilize appropriate measures, not limited to military intervention, to eliminate such threat. 2. Authorization for use of United States Armed Forces to dismantle Iranian nuclear technology (a) In general The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States against Iran to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure if the President— (1) certifies to Congress that inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have determined that Iran has failed to comply with its commitments or obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the President determines that such failure on behalf of Iran is serious in nature and a threat to the national security of the United States; (2) certifies to Congress that the provisions of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to the application of sanctions against Iran have been re-imposed under the terms and conditions of Article 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as a result of such failure of Iran to comply with its commitments or obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; and (3) provides to Congress a scope and strategy for the use of the Armed Forces under the authority of this section. (b) War Powers Resolution requirements (1) Specific statutory authorization Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution. (2) Applicability of other requirements Nothing in this joint resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution. 3. Reports and consultation with Congress (a) Reports The President shall, at least once every 60 days after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution, submit to Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority provided under section 2(a), including the use of lethal force and civilian casualties, as well as plans for the redeployment of the Armed Forces after actions taken pursuant to this joint resolution are completed. (b) Consultation with Congress The President shall regularly consult with the congressional committees of jurisdiction on actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority provided under section 2(a). 4. Rule of construction Nothing in this joint resolution shall be construed to interfere or violate the President’s inherent right to authorize limited military force in self-defense pursuant to the United States Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. 5. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action defined In this joint resolution, the term Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action means the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna July 14, 2015, by Iran and by the People’s Republic of China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and all implementing materials and agreements related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 6. Sunset The authority granted in section 2(a) shall terminate on the date that is 1 year after the date on which the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of such section 2(a) have been met.