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. 95
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: International Affairs
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Last Updated: 2026-06-08T19:49:12Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 95) directs the President to end the involvement of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Iran, invoking section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (a 1973 law requiring congressional approval for prolonged military actions and allowing Congress to order troop withdrawal).

Key Provisions

Termination of Hostilities (Section 1): Orders the removal of U.S. forces from combat or occupation roles against Iran or its government/military, unless Congress passes a declaration of war or specific authorization for military force.
Exceptions: Allows self-defense against imminent attacks on the U.S., its forces, diplomatic sites, or allies; permits defensive troop presence in the region; does not require withdrawing non-combat forces.
Intelligence Activities (Section 2): Does not interfere with U.S. intelligence collection, analysis, or sharing with partners, if the President deems it in national security interests.
No Authorization for Force (Section 3): Explicitly states it does not approve any military action, per the War Powers Resolution.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

No direct changes to law, as this is a concurrent resolution (a non-binding statement requiring House and Senate approval but no presidential signature).
Reinforces the War Powers Resolution by using its mechanism to assert congressional oversight on military engagements, without altering statutes.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Limits executive branch (President and Department of Defense) flexibility in operations against Iran; requires congressional action for escalation.
Citizens: Reduces risk of U.S. military entanglement in Iran conflict, potentially lowering casualty risks for service members.
International Relations: Signals de-escalation with Iran; may strain ties with allies expecting U.S. support against Iranian threats; preserves intelligence cooperation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

U.S. Congress: Initiates oversight of war powers.
President and Executive Branch: Must comply or face political/legal challenge.
U.S. Armed Forces: Directly impacts deployment and mission scope.
Iran and Regional Actors: Alters U.S. military posture.
U.S. Allies (e.g., Israel, Gulf states): Affects defensive partnerships.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Tests enforceability of War Powers Resolution directives; presidents have historically resisted similar measures.
Constitutional: Highlights debate over war powers split between Congress (declares war) and President (Commander-in-Chief).
Political: Could force public debate on U.S. Iran policy; introduced April 30, 2026, referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee—low chance of passage without bipartisan support.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

Recent Actions

2026-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2026-04-30: 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 2026-04-30 — PDF (3 pages)