No War Against Iran Act

Bill: 116-hr-5543
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
Introduced: 2020-01-07
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Defense spending

Iran

Iraq

Middle East

Military operations and strategy

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

War and emergency powers
Latest action: action_date: 2020-01-07
text: 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.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-01-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>No War Against Iran Act</b></p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5543 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. García of Illinois , Ms. Bonamici , Ms. Velázquez , 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No War Against Iran Act . 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.