[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 51 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 51
To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities
that have not been authorized by Congress.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 23, 2025
Ms. Omar (for herself, Mr. Casar, and Mr. Garcia of Illinois) submitted
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities
that have not been authorized by Congress.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SECTION 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) Section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C.
1541(c)) states that ``the constitutional powers of the
President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States
Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where
imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the
circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration
of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national
emergency created by attack upon the United States, its
territories or possessions, or its armed forces.''.
(3) Congress has not declared war upon, nor enacted a
specific statutory authorization for use of military force
against, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, nor any
transnational criminal organizations designated as Foreign
Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global
Terrorists since February 20, 2025.
(4) The designation of a group, entity, or individual as a
Foreign Terrorist Organization or Specially Designated Global
Terrorist provides no legal authority for the President to
direct the use of military force against members of designated
organizations or any foreign state.
(5) Neither the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military
Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) against the
perpetrators of the 9/11 attack nor the Authorization for Use
of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law
107-243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) provides any statutory authority
for the President to direct the use of military force against
Venezuela or any transnational criminal organizations
designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially
Designated Global Terrorists since February 20, 2025.
(6) Regarding Venezuelan jets flying near U.S. warships
dispatched to the South Caribbean Sea, President Trump on
September 5, 2025, stated that such planes were ``going to be
in trouble,'' and if a flyover reoccurs, he told a U.S.
general, ``You have a choice of doing anything you want,''
including, should such planes ``put us in a dangerous
situation, they will be shot down,'' indicating the
introduction of U.S. forces into imminent hostilities.
(7) No armed attack on the United States by Venezuela or
any transnational criminal organizations designated as Foreign
Terrorist Organizations or Special Designated Global Terrorist
since February 20th, 2025 has occurred, the trafficking of
illegal drugs does not itself constitute such an armed attack
or threat of an imminent armed attack.
(8) The strike on the vessel in the Southern Caribbean on
September 2, 2025, the subsequent strikes in September 2025,
and the positioning of U.S. warships and aircraft in the
Caribbean and President Trump's statements on the use of force
without prior statutory authorization, fall within the meaning
of section 4(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C.
1543(a)(1)), constituting either hostilities or a situation
where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated
by the circumstances into which United States Armed Forces have
been introduced.
(9) Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C.
1544(c)) states that ``at any time that United States Armed
Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the
United States, its possessions and territories without a
declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such
forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so
directs.''.
(10) In its report to Congress on the strike dated
September 4, 2025, pursuant to section 4(a) of the War Powers
Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)), President Trump stated, ``It is
not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration
of military operations that will be necessary. United States
forces remain postured to carry out further military
operations.''.
(11) The question of whether United States forces should be
engaged in hostilities against Venezuela or any transnational
criminal organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist
Organizations or Specially Designated Global Terrorists since
February 20, 2025, should be answered following a full briefing
to Congress and the American public of the issues at stake, a
public debate in Congress, and a congressional vote as
contemplated by the Constitution.
SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF THE USE OF UNITED STATES FORCES FOR HOSTILITIES.
(a) Termination.--Pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers
Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress hereby directs the President
to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities
against the following:
(1) The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela or any part of its
government or military.
(2) Any transnational criminal organizations designated as
Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global
Terrorists since February 20, 2025.
Unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific
authorization for use of military force after the date of the adoption
of this concurrent resolution.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent the United States from repelling sudden attacks or
engaging in self-defense consistent with the legal requirements
outlined in section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C.
1541(c)). The trafficking of illegal drugs does not itself constitute
such an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack under
section 2(c)(3) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541(c)(3)).
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