A joint resolution to direct 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. 191
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T10:56:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This joint resolution (S.J. Res. 191) aims to enforce Congress's constitutional authority over war by directing the President to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from unauthorized military hostilities within or against Iran. It invokes the War Powers Resolution (a 1973 law requiring presidential notification to Congress about troop deployments into conflict and automatic withdrawal after 60 days without congressional approval) amid reported U.S. combat operations starting February 28, 2026.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section (Sec. 1): Outlines 13 facts, including:
- Congress's sole power to declare war (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8).
- No congressional declaration of war or specific approval for force against Iran.
- U.S. deployment of over 50,000 troops, Iranian retaliatory strikes killing 13 U.S. servicemembers, closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and a U.S. naval blockade.
- The 60-day War Powers clock expires May 1, 2026, with no extensions justified.
- Removal Directive (Sec. 2(a)): Orders the President to remove U.S. forces from Iranian hostilities unless Congress declares war or passes a specific Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF).
- Exceptions (Sec. 2(b)): Allows continued U.S. actions for:
- Self-defense against attacks on U.S. personnel or facilities.
- Intelligence collection and sharing.
- Defensive aid to allies attacked by Iran (e.g., protective measures or equipment).
- Evacuating U.S. citizens.
The resolution uses expedited congressional procedures for fast debate and vote.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- No direct amendments to laws like the War Powers Resolution.
- Applies existing War Powers rules specifically to Iran operations, treating them as "hostilities" requiring withdrawal.
- References expedited procedures from 1976 and 1984 laws to bypass normal legislative delays for force withdrawal bills.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: U.S. military (e.g., Department of Defense) must halt offensive operations against Iran, shifting to defensive postures; could strain command structures if withdrawal is rapid.
- Citizens: Reduces risk to U.S. servicemembers (13 already killed); protects civilians via evacuation support but may disrupt energy supplies due to Strait of Hormuz issues, raising global prices.
- International Relations: Signals U.S. congressional limits on executive war powers; bolsters allies (e.g., Israel, Gulf states) with defensive aid but risks emboldening Iran; could ease economic disruptions from blockades.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Congress and President: Core tension over war authority.
- U.S. Armed Forces: Over 50,000 troops in the region face redeployment.
- Iran and its proxies (e.g., Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps): Operations would end unless reauthorized.
- Regional Allies (Bahrain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc.): Gain defensive support but lose full U.S. offensive backing.
- U.S. Citizens Abroad: Protected via evacuation.
- Global Economy: Affected by shipping and energy routes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's war declaration power vs. President's defense role; tests War Powers Resolution enforceability (historically debated, rarely overridden).
- Legal: Uses mandatory language ("directs the President") with built-in procedures; exceptions preserve flexibility to avoid court challenges over self-defense.
- Political: Introduced by Sens. Coons, Kaine, et al. (Democrats) on April 30, 2026, amid fictional Trump-ordered operations; could force veto confrontation or bipartisan war authorization debate.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2026-04-30: 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 2026-04-30 — PDF (6 pages)