SJRES 118 — Congress 119
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.
Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/118
Congress.gov subjects: International Affairs
Issues impacted: Defense & National Security (ai, high), Foreign Policy & Sanctions (ai, high)
Official bill text (stored)
Plain-text extraction from Congress.gov text formats. Canonical source remains the official URL above. Full text is prioritized for bills with roll-call votes.
94 SJ 118 IS: 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. U.S. Senate 2026-03-05 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IIA 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. J. RES. 118 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 5, 2026 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Kaine , Mr. Schiff , and Mr. Murphy ) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 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. 1. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution. (2) The President has a constitutional responsibility to take actions to defend the United States and its territories, possessions, citizens, service members, and diplomats from attack. (3) Congress has not declared war upon Iran or any person or organization within Iran, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for the use of military force within or against Iran. (4) The purpose of the War Powers Resolution, as stated in section 2(a) of such resolution ( 50 U.S.C. 1541(a) ), is to insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities. . (5) Section 3 of the War Powers Resolution ( 50 U.S.C. 1542 ) states, The President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances. . (6) During January and February 2026, the United States carried out the largest military buildup in the Middle East since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003. (7) On February 28, 2026, President Trump ordered the United States Armed Forces to conduct air strikes inside Iran’s territory, declaring that the strikes would be massive and ongoing and describing the circumstances as war, without congressional authorization or consultation. (8) This use of military force within or against Iran constitutes the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities within the meaning of section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution ( 50 U.S.C. 1543(a) ). (9) Section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 ( 50 U.S.C. 1546a ) provides that any joint resolution or bill requiring the removal of United States Armed Forces from imminent engagement in hostilities without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization shall be considered in accordance with the expedited procedures under section 601(b) of the International Security and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 ( Public Law 94–329 ). 2. Removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran (a) Removal Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 ( 50 U.S.C. 1546a ), and in accordance with section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 ( Public Law 94–329 ), Congress hereby directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent the United States from— (1) defending against an attack on the United States or its personnel or facilities in other nations; (2) collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence, including with the State of Israel and partner countries who have been attacked by Iran since February 28, 2026, and other nations and international organizations as appropriate, related to threats from Iran or its proxies; or (3) assisting the State of Israel and partner countries who have been attacked by Iran since February 28, 2026, and other nations— (A) in directly defending against retaliatory attacks upon their territories by Iran or its proxies; or (B) by providing defensive materiel support for such defensive measures.
Plain-English summary
Confidence: high · Complexity: moderate · Model: grok-4.5
This joint resolution is Congress’s way of saying: pull U.S. forces out of fighting inside or against Iran unless lawmakers clearly green-light it first.
It leans on the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution—the law that says both Congress and the President should share the call when American troops head into hostilities. The text notes Congress never declared war on Iran and never passed a specific okay for force there. It also says U.S. forces carried out strikes inside Iran without that approval, and that counts as hostilities under those rules.
The core ask is simple. The President would have to remove U.S. Armed Forces from those hostilities unless Congress declares war or passes a specific authorization for use of military force. It still leaves room to defend the United States and its people and facilities if attacked, to share intelligence, and to help Israel and other partners who were hit by Iran defend themselves—including with defensive gear.
Who would feel it most: service members and families tied to Middle East operations, and anyone watching how far the U.S. goes in a fight with Iran without a fresh vote from Congress.
Related issues
How a vote maps to positions
Impartial mapping: which issue position a Yea vs Nay advances. When a bill has multiple floor votes, each roll can have its own mapping. Bill-level entries (no roll listed) apply as a default when a roll has no specific map. Used for legislator alignment.
All rolls (bill default)
| Issue | Yea advances | Nay advances | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Policy & Sanctions | Restraint and limited overseas commitments | Status quo / reject this change | Yea directs removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran, narrowing overseas military involvement; Nay keeps current presidential latitude without that withdrawal directive. |
| Defense & National Security | Reduce defense outlays or scope | Status quo / reject this change | Yea narrows the authorized scope of U.S. military operations against Iran absent a new AUMF or declaration of war; Nay rejects that limit on ongoing force posture. |