A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
- Bill Number
- S.J.Res. 114
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-22: Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 51. Record Vote Number: 88. (consideration: CR S1889-1890)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-13T20:21:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This joint resolution (S.J. Res. 114) aims to enforce Congress's constitutional authority over military actions by directing the President to withdraw United States Armed Forces from any unauthorized hostilities—meaning armed conflicts—against Iran. It responds to specific unauthorized airstrikes ordered by the President on February 28, 2026, and seeks to prevent escalation without congressional approval.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines Congress's exclusive power to declare war (under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution), the President's duty to defend the U.S. and its interests, the lack of any congressional war declaration or specific authorization for military action against Iran, and the classification of the February 2026 airstrikes as "hostilities" under the War Powers Resolution (a 1973 law requiring presidential notification to Congress for military engagements and limiting unauthorized actions to 60-90 days).
- Removal Directive: Orders the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes them through a war declaration or a specific law allowing military force.
- Exceptions (Rule of Construction): Permits continued U.S. actions such as:
- Defending against attacks on U.S. personnel or facilities abroad.
- Gathering and sharing intelligence on threats from Iran or its supported groups (proxies), including with allies attacked by Iran since February 28, 2026.
- Providing defensive support to partner countries, such as helping intercept attacks or supplying defensive equipment.
The resolution invokes expedited legislative procedures (fast-track voting rules) from existing laws to ensure quick consideration.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Reinforces the War Powers Resolution by mandating immediate removal of forces from unauthorized conflicts, rather than relying solely on time limits (60-90 days) for presidential actions.
- References and applies expedited procedures from the 1984 Department of State Authorization Act and the 1976 International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act, which were not previously tied directly to Iran-specific resolutions, to bypass standard Senate filibusters and speed up passage.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Defense and executive branch would need to halt offensive operations against Iran, potentially redirecting resources to defensive and intelligence activities; this could strain military planning and require rapid compliance reporting to Congress.
- On Citizens: U.S. servicemembers and diplomats in the region might face reduced exposure to combat risks from unauthorized escalations, but could still be involved in defensive actions.
- On International Relations: Could de-escalate tensions with Iran by signaling limits on U.S. unilateral military actions, while maintaining alliances through defensive aid to countries attacked by Iran (e.g., Israel or Gulf states); however, it might embolden Iran or its proxies if perceived as U.S. weakness, or strain relations with allies expecting broader U.S. support.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congress: Gains enforcement of its war powers, with tools for quicker oversight of executive military decisions.
- President and Executive Branch: Faces restrictions on independent military initiatives, requiring congressional buy-in for future actions against Iran.
- U.S. Armed Forces: Directly impacted by withdrawal orders, shifting focus from offensive to defensive roles.
- Iran and Its Proxies: Benefits from potential U.S. pullback, reducing immediate threats but possibly facing continued intelligence and defensive pressures.
- Allied Nations: Countries attacked by Iran since February 2026 (e.g., regional partners) receive assured U.S. defensive assistance, though offensive support is curtailed.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Highlights the balance of power between Congress (war declaration authority) and the President (commander-in-chief role for defense), potentially setting a precedent for resolving disputes over unauthorized military engagements without court involvement.
- Legal: Builds on the War Powers Resolution, which has been debated for decades due to inconsistent enforcement; if passed, it could strengthen congressional tools against executive overreach, using expedited procedures to avoid delays.
- Political: Introduced in a future session (119th Congress, 2026) amid a hypothetical escalation, it reflects partisan tensions over foreign policy (e.g., referencing a Trump presidency); passage could force public debate on U.S. involvement in Middle East conflicts, influencing elections or alliances, but veto risk by the President might lead to override attempts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (11)
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-22: Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 51. Record Vote Number: 88. (consideration: CR S1889-1890) (Roll call 88)
- 2026-03-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (4 pages)