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. 91
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: International Affairs
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Last Updated: 2026-05-28T21:01:04Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran, invoking section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (a 1973 law requiring congressional approval for prolonged military actions without a declaration of war). It aims to end unauthorized U.S. military engagement with Iran unless Congress explicitly approves it through a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force (AUMF).

Key Provisions

Termination of Use of Force (Section 1(a)):
Requires the President to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran, its government, or military, including ground troops in combat or occupation roles.
Exceptions (Section 1(b)):
Allows self-defense of the U.S., its forces, diplomatic sites, or allies from imminent attacks.
Permits defensive troop presence in the region.
Does not require removal of forces not engaged in hostilities against Iran.
Intelligence Activities (Section 2):
Does not affect U.S. intelligence collection, analysis, or sharing with partners if deemed in national security interests.
No Authorization of Force (Section 3):
Explicitly states it does not approve any military action, per the War Powers Resolution.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

No new laws are created; this is a concurrent resolution (agreed to by both House and Senate but not signed by the President, so not a binding statute).
It enforces the War Powers Resolution by directing termination of unauthorized hostilities, potentially overriding executive military actions after a set period (60-90 days) without congressional approval.
Adds interpretive rules (e.g., exceptions for defense and intelligence) to clarify limits without altering the underlying law.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Compels the Department of Defense and President to cease offensive operations against Iran, shifting focus to defensive postures; intelligence agencies (e.g., CIA) continue unaffected.
Citizens: May reduce U.S. military risk and casualties in potential Iran conflicts, limiting executive war powers.
International Relations: Could de-escalate tensions with Iran, signal restraint to allies (e.g., Israel, Gulf states), and affect coalitions by preserving defensive presence but ending attacks.

Main Stakeholders Affected

U.S. Congress: Asserts oversight of military actions.
President and Executive Branch: Restricted in conducting hostilities without approval.
U.S. Armed Forces: Must withdraw from offensive roles against Iran.
Iran and Regional Actors: Potential end to U.S. hostilities; impacts on allies like Israel or Saudi Arabia via continued defensive support.
U.S. Intelligence Community and Allies: Unaffected in sharing threat-related intelligence.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Relies on War Powers Resolution's unique provision for concurrent resolutions to have force; past presidents have questioned its constitutionality as potentially violating the Presentment Clause (requiring presidential signature for laws).
Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's Article I power to declare war versus President's Article II commander-in-chief role, amid ongoing debates over executive military authority.
Political: Demonstrates bipartisan or congressional pushback on unauthorized engagements (introduced April 27, 2026, by Rep. Dexter; referred to Foreign Affairs Committee), potentially setting precedent for future resolutions on other nations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

Recent Actions

2026-04-27: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2026-04-27: 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 2026-04-27 — PDF (3 pages)