Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Lebanon that have not been authorized by Congress.
- Bill Number
- H.Con.Res. 83
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-15T08:07:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 83) directs the President to withdraw United States Armed Forces from any involvement in hostilities in Lebanon that lack congressional approval, invoking the War Powers Resolution—a 1973 law designed to check presidential military actions without Congress's consent.
Key Provisions
- Findings:
- Congress holds sole authority to declare war (per U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8).
- The War Powers Resolution requires presidential military actions to stem from a war declaration, specific congressional approval, or a national emergency from attack on the U.S.
- No congressional war declaration or specific authorization exists for U.S. support of Israel's military actions in Lebanon.
- U.S. forces' activities—such as commanding, coordinating, or accompanying Israeli forces—qualify as "introduction into hostilities" under the War Powers Resolution.
- Directive: The President must remove U.S. Armed Forces from these unauthorized hostilities in Lebanon within 7 days of the resolution's adoption, unless Congress enacts a war declaration or specific authorization.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- No new laws are created; the resolution enforces existing provisions of the War Powers Resolution (sections 2(c), 5(c), and 8(c)), particularly using a concurrent resolution (passed by both House and Senate but not requiring presidential signature) to mandate troop withdrawal.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Compels the President and Department of Defense to halt U.S. military involvement in Lebanon-related operations promptly, potentially disrupting ongoing missions.
- Citizens: Could reduce U.S. military risks abroad but might affect national security if operations are deemed essential.
- International Relations: May strain ties with Israel (by limiting support for its Lebanon operations) and signal U.S. restraint toward regional conflicts involving groups in Lebanon.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Congress: Asserts its war powers oversight.
- President and Executive Branch: Must comply with withdrawal order.
- U.S. Armed Forces: Personnel involved in Lebanon support roles face immediate redeployment.
- Israel: Loses potential U.S. military coordination.
- Lebanon and Regional Actors: Altered dynamics in ongoing hostilities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional Tension: Reinforces Congress's war declaration power versus the President's role as Commander-in-Chief, potentially sparking debates over separation of powers.
- War Powers Resolution Enforcement: Tests the rarely used section 5(c), which allows concurrent resolutions to force withdrawals—its legal weight has been disputed in past administrations.
- Political Ramifications: Introduced by House members (Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Velázquez), it could fuel partisan divides on foreign policy and U.S. involvement in Middle East conflicts. Referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2026-03-27: Submitted in House
- 2026-03-27: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Lebanon that have not been authorized by Congress. — issued 2026-03-27 — PDF (4 pages)