G:\M\16\SLOTKI\SLOTKI_051.XML ..................................................................... (Original Signature of Member) 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. CON. RES. l Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. SLOTKIN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on lllllllllllllll CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran. 1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 2 concurring), 3 SECTION 1. TERMINATION OF USE OF UNITED STATES 4 ARMED FORCES TO ENGAGE IN HOSTILITIES 5 IN OR AGAINST IRAN. 6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find- 7 ings: g:\VHLC\010820\010820.146.xml January 8, 2020 (3:13 p.m.) VerDate Mar 15 2010 15:13 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 000000 (753251 8) PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 C:\USERS\MASYNNES\APPDATA\ROAMING\SOFTQUAD\XMETAL\7.0\GEN\C\SLOTKI_05 G:\M\16\SLOTKI\SLOTKI_051.XML 2 1 (1) The Government of Iran is a leading state 2 sponsor of terrorism and engages in a range of de- 3 stabilizing activities across the Middle East. Iranian 4 General Qassem Soleimani was the lead architect of 5 much of Iran’s destabilizing activities throughout the 6 world. 7 (2) The United States has an inherent right to 8 self-defense against imminent armed attacks. The 9 United States maintains the right to ensure the 10 safety of diplomatic personnel serving abroad. 11 (3) In matters of imminent armed attacks, the 12 executive branch should indicate to Congress why 13 military action was necessary within a certain win- 14 dow of opportunity, the possible harm that missing 15 the window would cause, and why the action was 16 likely to prevent future disastrous attacks against 17 the United States. 18 (4) The United States has national interests in 19 preserving its partnership with Iraq and other coun- 20 tries in the region, including by— 21 (A) combating terrorists, including the Is- 22 lamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); 23 (B) preventing Iran from achieving a nu- 24 clear weapons capability; and g:\VHLC\010820\010820.146.xml January 8, 2020 (3:13 p.m.) VerDate Mar 15 2010 15:13 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 000000 (753251 8) PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 C:\USERS\MASYNNES\APPDATA\ROAMING\SOFTQUAD\XMETAL\7.0\GEN\C\SLOTKI_05 G:\M\16\SLOTKI\SLOTKI_051.XML 3 1 (C) supporting the people of Iraq, Iran, 2 and other countries throughout the Middle East 3 who demand an end to government corruption 4 and violations of basic human rights. 5 (5) Over the past eight months, in response to 6 rising tensions with Iran, the United States has in- 7 troduced over 15,000 additional forces into the Mid- 8 dle East. The killing of Iranian General Qassem 9 Soleimani, as well as Iran’s ballistic missile attack 10 on Iraqi bases, risks significant escalation in hos- 11 tilities between the United States and Iran. 12 (6) When the United States uses military force, 13 the American people and members of the United 14 States Armed Forces deserve a credible explanation 15 regarding such use of military force. 16 (7) The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 17 1541 et seq.) requires the President to consult with 18 Congress ‘‘in every possible instance’’ before intro- 19 ducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities. 20 (8) Congress has not authorized the President 21 to use military force against Iran. 22 (b) TERMINATION.—Pursuant to section 5(c) of the 23 War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress 24 hereby directs the President to terminate the use of 25 United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or g:\VHLC\010820\010820.146.xml January 8, 2020 (3:13 p.m.) VerDate Mar 15 2010 15:13 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 000000 (753251 8) PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 C:\USERS\MASYNNES\APPDATA\ROAMING\SOFTQUAD\XMETAL\7.0\GEN\C\SLOTKI_05 G:\M\16\SLOTKI\SLOTKI_051.XML 4 1 against Iran or any part of its government or military, 2 unless— 3 (1) Congress has declared war or enacted spe- 4 cific statutory authorization for such use of the 5 Armed Forces; or 6 (2) such use of the Armed Forces is necessary 7 and appropriate to defend against an imminent 8 armed attack upon the United States, its territories 9 or possessions, or its Armed Forces, consistent with 10 the requirements of the War Powers Resolution. 11 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec- 12 tion may be construed— 13 14 (1) to prevent the President from using military force against al Qaeda or associated forces; 15 (2) to limit the obligations of the executive 16 branch set forth in the War Powers Resolution (50 17 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); 18 (3) to affect the provisions of an Act or joint 19 resolution of Congress specifically authorizing the 20 use of United States Armed Forces to engage in 21 hostilities against Iran or any part of its government 22 or military that is enacted after the date of the 23 adoption of this concurrent resolution; 24 (4) to prevent the use of necessary and appro- 25 priate military force to defend United States allies g:\VHLC\010820\010820.146.xml January 8, 2020 (3:13 p.m.) VerDate Mar 15 2010 15:13 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 000000 (753251 8) PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 C:\USERS\MASYNNES\APPDATA\ROAMING\SOFTQUAD\XMETAL\7.0\GEN\C\SLOTKI_05 G:\M\16\SLOTKI\SLOTKI_051.XML 5 1 and partners if authorized by Congress consistent 2 with the requirements of the War Powers Resolu- 3 tion; or 4 (5) to authorize the use of military force. g:\VHLC\010820\010820.146.xml January 8, 2020 (3:13 p.m.) VerDate Mar 15 2010 15:13 Jan 08, 2020 Jkt 000000 (753251 8) PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 C:\USERS\MASYNNES\APPDATA\ROAMING\SOFTQUAD\XMETAL\7.0\GEN\C\SLOTKI_05