Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
- Bill Number
- H.Con.Res. 87
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-21: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-15T18:13:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H. Con. Res. 87
Purpose
This concurrent resolution directs the President to end the use of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Iran, invoking section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (a 1973 law that limits presidential military actions without congressional approval). It aims to terminate unauthorized military engagements unless Congress explicitly approves them via a declaration of war or specific authorization.
Key Provisions
- Termination of Hostilities (Section 1): Requires removal of U.S. forces from combat or occupation roles against Iran or its government/military, unless Congress declares war or passes a specific authorization for use of military force (AUMF).
- Exceptions: Allows self-defense against imminent attacks on the U.S., its forces, diplomatic sites, or allies; permits defensive troop presence in the region; and does not force removal of non-hostile U.S. forces.
- Intelligence Activities (Section 2): Does not interfere with U.S. intelligence collection, analysis, or sharing with partners if the President deems it necessary for national security.
- No Authorization of Force (Section 3): Explicitly states the resolution does not approve any military action, aligning with the War Powers Resolution.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- No new laws are created; this invokes and enforces existing War Powers Resolution requirements.
- It serves as a congressional directive under section 5(c), which allows a concurrent resolution (passed by both House and Senate, but not signed by the President) to order force withdrawal after the 60-day limit for unauthorized hostilities.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Compels the President and Department of Defense to withdraw forces from offensive actions against Iran, potentially shifting military posture to purely defensive operations.
- Citizens: Could reduce U.S. military involvement in potential conflicts, lowering risks to service members and related costs/taxes.
- International Relations: May signal U.S. de-escalation with Iran, affecting alliances (e.g., Israel, Gulf states) and regional stability; preserves intelligence cooperation but limits offensive options.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. President and Executive Branch: Directly bound by the directive if passed.
- U.S. Congress: Asserts its war powers authority.
- U.S. Armed Forces: Personnel in or deployable to the region.
- Iran and Regional Actors: Iranian government/military; U.S. allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia.
- Intelligence Community: Unaffected in core operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Tests the War Powers Resolution's concurrent resolution mechanism, which has rarely been used; could lead to court challenges over separation of powers.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's Article I authority to declare war, countering claims of broad presidential power for military actions.
- Political: Highlights partisan debates on U.S. foreign policy; as an introduced resolution (referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee on April 21, 2026), it requires bicameral passage to take effect but lacks veto override.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-21: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2026-04-21: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. — issued 2026-04-21 — PDF (3 pages)