PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 15, 2026
This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted.
The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself, its Armed Forces, its diplomatic facilities, or allied states from imminent attack.
People & committees
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] · D–WA
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Submitted in House
Submitted in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Sep 19, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-05-15 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This proposed concurrent resolution would direct the President to end U.S. military involvement in hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes it through a declaration of war or a specific authorization to use military force. It preserves defense against imminent attacks and defensive troop deployments. It also protects specified intelligence activities and does not itself authorize military force.
Congress hereby directs the President to remove the use of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, including potential ground forces in a combat role or used for occupation, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.
Nothing in this section may be construed to— (1) prevent the United States from defending itself, its Armed Forces, its diplomatic facilities, or allied states from imminent attack; (2) prevent the United States Armed Forces from maintaining a troop presence in the region for defensive purposes
Nothing in this resolution may be construed to influence or disrupt any intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities relating to threats in or emanating from Iran or surrounding countries
nothing in this concurrent resolution may be construed as authorizing the use of military force.
Section 1 invokes section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to direct the President to end hostilities against Iran's government or military. The proposed direction expressly includes potential ground troops used in combat or occupation, with an exception for force explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization against Iran.
Pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress hereby directs the President to remove the use of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, including potential ground forces in a combat role or used for occupation, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.
The withdrawal direction would not prevent defense of the United States, its armed forces, its diplomatic facilities, or allied states against imminent attack.
Nothing in this section may be construed to— (1) prevent the United States from defending itself, its Armed Forces, its diplomatic facilities, or allied states from imminent attack
The resolution would allow a defensive U.S. troop presence in the region and would not require removal of troops there who are not engaged in hostilities against Iran.
(2) prevent the United States Armed Forces from maintaining a troop presence in the region for defensive purposes; or (3) force the removal of the United States Armed Forces in the region who are not engaged in hostilities against Iran.
Section 2 would protect U.S. government intelligence, counterintelligence, and investigative activities concerning threats in or coming from Iran or surrounding countries. This includes collecting and analyzing intelligence, and sharing it with coalition partners when the President determines that sharing is appropriate and serves U.S. national security interests.
Nothing in this resolution may be construed to influence or disrupt any intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities relating to threats in or emanating from Iran or surrounding countries conducted by, or in conjunction with, the United States Government involving— (1) the collection of intelligence; (2) the analysis of intelligence; or (3) the sharing of intelligence between the United States and any coalition partner, if the President determines such sharing is appropriate and in the national security interests of the United States.
Section 3 expressly says the resolution would not authorize military force, citing section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution.
Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1547(a)(1)), nothing in this concurrent resolution may be construed as authorizing the use of military force.
The supplied September 19, 2026 source snapshot records submission in the House and referral to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on May 15, 2026.
Source snapshot updated 2026-09-19T23:39:20Z. 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 2026-05-15: Submitted in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-05-15. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish the contents of other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion does not extend to other versions or accompanying earmark disclosures or reports.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow preferential benefit was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. The exceptions define the scope of its military and intelligence policy. This conclusion is limited to that version, not other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Sep 19, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI