No WAR Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8592
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Economics and Public Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T12:14:10Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill, titled the "No War Appropriations through Reconciliation Act" or "No WAR Act," aims to block the use of budget reconciliation—a fast-track process for passing certain fiscal legislation without filibusters—from funding unauthorized U.S. military actions against Iran. It ensures Congress must explicitly approve such actions via a declaration of war or specific authorization before funding them this way.
Key Provisions
- Point of Order: Adds a new rule (Section 310(h)) to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, making it out of order (prohibited) to consider any reconciliation bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that provides budget authority (funding) for "hostilities" against Iran without prior congressional authorization.
- Definitions:
- Hostilities: Any offensive military operation, strike, covert action, or sustained armed conflict targeting Iranian military forces, territory, or government institutions.
- Proxy forces: Foreign military, paramilitary, or irregular groups directed, requested, or materially supported by the U.S.
- Enforcement: Updates Section 904 to include this rule among points of order that cannot be waived under budget process exceptions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the 1974 Budget Act to impose a Iran-specific restriction on reconciliation, which previously had no such targeted limits on military funding.
- Closes a potential loophole where presidents could use reconciliation to fund military actions without full congressional debate or authorization, reinforcing Congress's "power of the purse" (control over spending).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Limits the executive branch (e.g., Department of Defense, intelligence agencies) from accessing quick funding via reconciliation for Iran-related operations, requiring traditional appropriations bills or specific war authorizations.
- Citizens: Could reduce risk of undeclared wars by mandating congressional oversight, potentially affecting taxpayer funds and U.S. involvement in Middle East conflicts.
- International Relations: May constrain U.S. military flexibility against Iran, influencing deterrence strategies, alliances (e.g., with Israel or Gulf states), and proxy engagements (e.g., in Yemen or Syria).
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congress: Members, especially on Budget and Rules Committees, gain a procedural tool to challenge unauthorized funding.
- Executive Branch: President, Pentagon, and intelligence community face barriers to rapid funding for Iran operations.
- U.S. Military and Allies: Service members and partners relying on U.S. support for anti-Iran actions.
- Iran and Proxies: Islamic Republic of Iran, its military (e.g., IRGC), and supported groups (e.g., Houthis, Hezbollah) indirectly benefit from funding restrictions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Strengthens Congress's Article I powers to declare war, authorize force, and control appropriations, countering executive claims of broad commander-in-chief authority.
- Legal: Creates an enforceable parliamentary rule (point of order) in both chambers, subject to majority votes to waive, but hard to override in reconciliation.
- Political: Could spark debates on war powers, with potential for partisan use in divided government; applies only to Iran, raising questions of specificity vs. broader application.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (23)
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-30: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3328)
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No War Appropriations through Reconciliation Act — issued 2026-04-30 — PDF (3 pages)