H.Con.Res. 51

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 51 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 51

To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities 
that have not been authorized by Congress.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 23, 2025

Ms. Omar (for herself, Mr. Casar, and Mr. Garcia of Illinois) submitted 
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities 
that have not been authorized by Congress.

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under 
article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States 
Constitution.
(2) Section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
1541(c)) states that ``the constitutional powers of the 
President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States 
Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where 
imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the 
circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration 
of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national 
emergency created by attack upon the United States, its 
territories or possessions, or its armed forces.''.
(3) Congress has not declared war upon, nor enacted a 
specific statutory authorization for use of military force 
against, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, nor any 
transnational criminal organizations designated as Foreign 
Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global 
Terrorists since February 20, 2025.
(4) The designation of a group, entity, or individual as a 
Foreign Terrorist Organization or Specially Designated Global 
Terrorist provides no legal authority for the President to 
direct the use of military force against members of designated 
organizations or any foreign state.
(5) Neither the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military 
Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) against the 
perpetrators of the 9/11 attack nor the Authorization for Use 
of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 
107-243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) provides any statutory authority 
for the President to direct the use of military force against 
Venezuela or any transnational criminal organizations 
designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially 
Designated Global Terrorists since February 20, 2025.
(6) Regarding Venezuelan jets flying near U.S. warships 
dispatched to the South Caribbean Sea, President Trump on 
September 5, 2025, stated that such planes were ``going to be 
in trouble,'' and if a flyover reoccurs, he told a U.S. 
general, ``You have a choice of doing anything you want,'' 
including, should such planes ``put us in a dangerous 
situation, they will be shot down,'' indicating the 
introduction of U.S. forces into imminent hostilities.
(7) No armed attack on the United States by Venezuela or 
any transnational criminal organizations designated as Foreign 
Terrorist Organizations or Special Designated Global Terrorist 
since February 20th, 2025 has occurred, the trafficking of 
illegal drugs does not itself constitute such an armed attack 
or threat of an imminent armed attack.
(8) The strike on the vessel in the Southern Caribbean on 
September 2, 2025, the subsequent strikes in September 2025, 
and the positioning of U.S. warships and aircraft in the 
Caribbean and President Trump's statements on the use of force 
without prior statutory authorization, fall within the meaning 
of section 4(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
1543(a)(1)), constituting either hostilities or a situation 
where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated 
by the circumstances into which United States Armed Forces have 
been introduced.
(9) Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
1544(c)) states that ``at any time that United States Armed 
Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the 
United States, its possessions and territories without a 
declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such 
forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so 
directs.''.
(10) In its report to Congress on the strike dated 
September 4, 2025, pursuant to section 4(a) of the War Powers 
Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)), President Trump stated, ``It is 
not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration 
of military operations that will be necessary. United States 
forces remain postured to carry out further military 
operations.''.
(11) The question of whether United States forces should be 
engaged in hostilities against Venezuela or any transnational 
criminal organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist 
Organizations or Specially Designated Global Terrorists since 
February 20, 2025, should be answered following a full briefing 
to Congress and the American public of the issues at stake, a 
public debate in Congress, and a congressional vote as 
contemplated by the Constitution.

SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF THE USE OF UNITED STATES FORCES FOR HOSTILITIES.

(a) Termination.--Pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers 
Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress hereby directs the President 
to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities 
against the following:
(1) The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela or any part of its 
government or military.
(2) Any transnational criminal organizations designated as 
Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global 
Terrorists since February 20, 2025.
Unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific 
authorization for use of military force after the date of the adoption 
of this concurrent resolution.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prevent the United States from repelling sudden attacks or 
engaging in self-defense consistent with the legal requirements 
outlined in section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
1541(c)). The trafficking of illegal drugs does not itself constitute 
such an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack under 
section 2(c)(3) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541(c)(3)).
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