Directing the President, pursuant to the War Powers Resolution, to comply with the 60-day use of force and 30-day phased withdrawal requirements regarding the use of the United States Armed Forces in Operation Epic Fury in Iran.
- Bill Number
- H.J.Res. 156
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-16: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-21T08:05:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This joint resolution (H.J. Res. 156) directs the President to follow the War Powers Resolution (a 1973 law limiting presidential military actions without Congress's approval) by ending U.S. military involvement in Operation Epic Fury in Iran within 60 days of its start (February 28, 2026) and completing a phased troop withdrawal within 30 days after that.
Key Provisions
- Findings (Section 1): Outlines Iran's role as a terrorism sponsor, threats to U.S. security, human rights abuses, nuclear activities, details of Operation Epic Fury (U.S.-Israel airstrikes, assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader), Iranian retaliation (including Strait of Hormuz closure), and U.S. casualties (13 killed, 381 wounded). Affirms Congress's constitutional power to declare war.
- Termination of Force (Section 2): President must stop military operations in Iran 60 days after the operation began, with full withdrawal 30 days later. This timeline pauses during U.S.-Iran cease-fire talks.
- Phased Withdrawal (Section 3): Requires gradual troop removal unless Congress declares war or specifically authorizes force. Exceptions allow limited forces for defending the U.S. or allies from imminent attacks (immediate threats) or preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, if War Powers rules are followed.
- Intelligence Protection (Section 4): Does not affect U.S. intelligence collection, analysis, or sharing with partners if the President deems it vital for national security.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- No new laws created; enforces existing War Powers Resolution requirements (60-day limit on unauthorized force, 30-day withdrawal window) specifically for this operation.
- Clarifies exceptions for defense and nuclear prevention, tying them to War Powers compliance.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: U.S. military (e.g., Central Command) must withdraw forces, potentially straining logistics; President loses flexibility in ongoing operations.
- Citizens: Reduces risk to U.S. troops by ending involvement; could affect service members' families and veterans' support needs.
- International Relations: May weaken U.S.-Israel coordination against Iran; could ease tensions if Iran halts retaliation, but risks emboldening Iran/proxies (e.g., Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis) or disrupting global trade via Strait of Hormuz.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. President and Executive Branch: Must comply or face legal challenge.
- Congress: Reasserts oversight on military actions.
- U.S. Armed Forces: Troops in/near Iran subject to withdrawal.
- Iran and Proxies: Ends direct U.S. strikes, potentially strengthening their position.
- Allies (e.g., Israel): Lose U.S. military support in conflict.
- U.S. Public: Impacts national security, troop safety, and economy (e.g., oil prices from Hormuz issues).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Reinforces Article I, Section 8 (Congress's sole power to declare war) vs. presidential commander-in-chief authority (Article II).
- Legal: Could lead to court challenges if President resists; sets precedent for Congress enforcing War Powers in specific conflicts.
- Political: Highlights partisan divides on executive war powers; may prompt debates on future authorizations for Iran actions or nuclear threats.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-16: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2026-04-16: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Directing the President, pursuant to the War Powers Resolution, to comply with the 60-day use of force and 30-day phased withdrawal requirements regarding the use of the United States Armed Forces in Operation Epic Fury in Iran. — issued 2026-04-16 — PDF (5 pages)