PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] · R–PA
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
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 · 2026-04-16 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 joint resolution would require the President to end Operation Epic Fury’s military force in Iran and withdraw U.S. forces on a timetable that pauses during cease-fire negotiations or a negotiated cease-fire. It also directs phased withdrawal, subject to congressional authorization and exceptions for certain defense and nuclear-prevention missions. It would preserve intelligence activities concerning Iranian threats. The proposal affects presidential military decisions and U.S. forces in Iran.
the President shall terminate the use of military forces regarding this operation in Iran and shall withdraw the Armed Forces from Iran
Any day that is on or after the commencement of Operation Epic Fury during which the United States engages in cease-fire negotiations with the Government of Iran or has entered into a negotiated cease-fire shall not count as one of the 60 days described in subsection (a).
unless otherwise explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran, Congress directs the President to begin the phased removal of the Armed Forces from Iran, other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack, or prevent the procurement of a nuclear weapon
Nothing in this joint resolution may be construed to influence or disrupt any intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities relating to threats in or emanating from Iran
Section 1 presents Congress’s stated reasons for the proposal, including assertions that Iran threatens the United States and that Congress controls declarations of war. These are findings written into the proposal, not independently verified conclusions in this analysis.
Congress finds the following:
(2) The Islamic Republic of Iran poses a direct threat to the United States and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans.
(8) Under article I, section 8 of the Constitution, Congress holds the sole power to declare war, and the 1973 War Powers Resolution limits the President’s ability to initiate military action without authorization, requiring troop withdrawal within 60 days unless Congress authorizes continued engagement.
Section 2 would require the President to terminate military force for Operation Epic Fury in Iran within 60 counted days after the operation began, then withdraw the Armed Forces from Iran no later than 30 days thereafter. The proposal’s findings date the operation’s commencement to February 28, 2026. The deadline runs from the operation’s commencement, rather than from enactment.
Consistent with requirements of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)), not later than 60 days (subject to subsection (b)) after the commencement of Operation Epic Fury, the President shall terminate the use of military forces regarding this operation in Iran and shall withdraw the Armed Forces from Iran in accordance with section 2 not later than 30 days thereafter.
On February 28, 2026, United States Central Command, joint with Israel, commenced Operation Epic Fury at the direction of the President of the United States
The 60-day clock would exclude days on or after the operation began when the United States engages in cease-fire negotiations with Iran’s government or has entered into a negotiated cease-fire. This pause applies expressly to the 60-day period.
Any day that is on or after the commencement of Operation Epic Fury during which the United States engages in cease-fire negotiations with the Government of Iran or has entered into a negotiated cease-fire shall not count as one of the 60 days described in subsection (a).
Section 3 would direct the President to begin removing U.S. forces from Iran in stages under the cited War Powers Resolution provision, unless a declaration of war or a specific congressional authorization explicitly authorizes military force against Iran.
Pursuant to section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)) and unless otherwise explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran, Congress directs the President to begin the phased removal of the Armed Forces from Iran
The phased-removal direction would except forces that may be necessary to defend the United States, an ally, or a partner against an imminent attack, or to prevent acquisition of a nuclear weapon. Any such use of forces would remain conditioned on the President’s full compliance with section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.
other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack, or prevent the procurement of a nuclear weapon, to the extent that the President complies fully with the requirements of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)) with respect to any such use of the Armed Forces.
Section 4 would prevent the resolution from being interpreted to influence or disrupt U.S. government intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities concerning threats in or from Iran. It covers intelligence collection and analysis, and sharing with coalition partners when the President determines that sharing is appropriate and serves U.S. national security interests.
Nothing in this joint resolution may be construed to influence or disrupt any intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities relating to threats in or emanating from Iran 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.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated September 19, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 16, 2026. It supplies no subsequent legislative action.
Source snapshot updated 2026-09-19T23:16:08Z. 2026-04-16: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 2026-04-16: Introduced in House 2026-04-16: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-04-16. 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 or attachment history 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 is limited to that version; earmark disclosures and accompanying committee or conference materials were not supplied.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow preferential benefit meeting this category’s definition was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Sep 19, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI