A 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.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 180 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 180

 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 13, 2026

  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, its territories, its
        possessions, citizens, service members, 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, the Trump Administration launched
        Operation Epic Fury, introducing the United States Armed Forces
        into hostilities against Iran.
            (5) The President notified Congress on March 2, 2026,
        pursuant to the War Powers Resolution of 1973, of the
        initiation of military force against Iran on February 28, 2026.
        The notification stated that ``it is not possible at this time
        to know the full scope and duration of military operations that
        may be necessary''.
            (6) President Donald J. Trump has ordered additional United
        States military forces to the region to prepare for potential
        military operations consistent with the President's statements
        about the possibility of using ground forces against Iran.
            (7) On April 7, 2026, President Trump threatened that ``a
        whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back
        again,'' which came after other statements during the war
        threatening to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure like
        power plants.
            (8) As of April 8, 2026, 13 members of the United States
        Armed Forces have been killed and 380 have been wounded during
        the war with Iran, and President Trump has said there will
        likely be additional American lives lost.
            (9) 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)).
            (10) 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 from imminent engagement 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 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 section 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 who have been attacked by Iran
        since February 28, 2026, and other nations and international
        organizations as appropriate, related to defending against
        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 intercepting retaliatory attacks upon their
                territory 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 of United States citizens affected by the
        hostilities.
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