S.J.Res. 191

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 191 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. J. RES. 191

To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities 
within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been 
authorized by Congress.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 30, 2026

Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Booker, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Schiff, 
Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following joint 
resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

JOINT RESOLUTION

To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities 
within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been 
authorized by Congress.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

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) The President has a constitutional responsibility to 
take actions to defend the United States and its territories, 
possessions, citizens, servicemembers, and diplomats from 
attack.
(3) Congress has not declared war upon Iran or any person 
or organization within Iran, nor enacted a specific statutory 
authorization for the use of military force within or against 
Iran.
(4) On February 28, 2026, President Donald J. Trump 
declared the start of ``major combat operations in Iran'', and 
by early March 2026, the United States had deployed more than 
50,000 members of the United States Armed Forces to the region 
to support the war.
(5) Following the initiation of combat operations, Iran 
conducted retaliatory drone and ballistic missiles strikes 
against hundreds of targets, including United States embassies, 
consulates, and military bases, across Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, 
Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the 
United Arab Emirates. 13 American servicemembers have been 
killed.
(6) On March 2, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 
(IRGC) effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, 
resulting in a precipitous drop in maritime traffic, widespread 
energy shortages, and worldwide economic disruption.
(7) On April 12, 2026, President Trump ordered a complete 
naval blockade of Iranian ports.
(8) The use of military force within or against Iran 
constitutes the introduction of United States Armed Forces into 
hostilities within the meaning of section 4(a) of the War 
Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)).
(9) Pursuant to the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 
et seq.), the President must terminate any use of United States 
Armed Forces within 60 days of providing initial notification 
to Congress, unless Congress has ``declared war or has enacted 
a specific authorization for such use of United States Armed 
Forces,'' has ``extended by law such 60-day period,'' or ``is 
physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon 
the United States,'' none of which has occurred with respect to 
the current hostilities in and against Iran.
(10) The 60-day period following the President's 
notification to Congress on March 2, 2026, ends on May 1, 2026.
(11) Under the War Powers Resolution, the President may 
extend the presence of the Armed Forces for ``not more than an 
additional 30 days if the President determines and certifies to 
the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity 
respecting the safety of United States Armed Forces requires 
the continued use of such armed forces in the course of 
bringing about a prompt removal of such forces''.
(12) The purpose of the War Powers Resolution, as stated in 
section 2(a) of such resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541(a)), is to 
``insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and 
the President will apply to the introduction of United States 
Armed Forces into hostilities''.
(13) Section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization 
Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a) provides that 
any joint resolution or bill requiring the removal of United 
States Armed Forces engaged in hostilities without a 
declaration of war or specific statutory authorization shall be 
considered in accordance with the expedited procedures under 
section 601(b) of the International Security and Arms Export 
Control Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-329).

SEC. 2. REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES WITHIN 
OR AGAINST THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN.

(a) Removal.--Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of State 
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a), and in 
accordance with section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance 
and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-329), Congress 
hereby directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces 
from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized 
by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military 
force.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this resolution may be 
construed to prevent the United States from--
(1) defending against an attack on the United States or its 
personnel or facilities in other nations;
(2) collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence, 
including with partner countries and international 
organizations as appropriate, related to threats from Iran or 
its proxies;
(3) assisting partner countries who have been attacked by 
Iran since February 28, 2026, and other nations--
(A) in taking defensive measures to protect their 
territory from retaliatory attacks by Iran or its 
proxies; or
(B) by providing defensive materiel support for 
such defensive measures; or
(4) providing assistance for the security, departure, and 
evacuation to United States citizens affected by the 
hostilities.
<all>