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. 99
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: International Affairs
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Last Updated: 2026-06-16T13:12:04Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 99) directs the President to end the use of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Iran, based on section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution—a 1973 law that requires the President to notify Congress of military actions and allows Congress to order a withdrawal via such a resolution.

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 approves a formal declaration of war or a 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; and does not require removing non-combat forces.
Intelligence Protection (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 for Force (Section 3): Explicitly states it does not approve any military action, aligning with War Powers Resolution rules.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

No direct changes to statutes, as this is a concurrent resolution (not a binding law requiring presidential signature).
Invokes but does not amend the War Powers Resolution; reinforces Congress's role in directing military withdrawals without new authorizations.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Compels the President and Department of Defense to cease offensive operations against Iran, potentially shifting military posture to defense-only.
Citizens: Could reduce U.S. military involvement in the region, lowering risks to service members but possibly affecting national security perceptions.
International Relations: Signals de-escalation with Iran; may strain alliances if partners view it as reduced U.S. commitment, or ease tensions if hostilities end.

Main Stakeholders Affected

U.S. President and Executive Branch: Directly ordered to act.
U.S. Congress: Asserts oversight via House and Senate concurrence.
U.S. Armed Forces: Personnel in or near Iran operations face redeployment mandates.
Iran and Regional Actors: Targets Iranian government/military; impacts U.S. allies (e.g., Israel, Gulf states) reliant on U.S. support.
Intelligence Community: Unaffected in core activities.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Relies on War Powers Resolution's concurrent resolution mechanism, which courts have rarely tested; could spark disputes over "hostilities" definition.
Constitutional: Highlights Article I (Congress declares war) vs. Article II (President as commander-in-chief) tensions.
Political: Introduced May 12, 2026, by Rep. Velazquez (referred to Foreign Affairs Committee); passage would pressure executive foreign policy without veto risk, but non-binding nature may limit enforcement.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

Recent Actions

2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2026-05-12: 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 2026-05-12 — PDF (3 pages)