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H.J.Res. 126House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities that have not been authorized by Congress.

Sponsored by Jason CrowRep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
Introduced September 19, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 12:51 PM UTC

This joint resolution orders the President to stop using U.S. armed forces in any hostilities that have not been authorized by Congress. It focuses on actions against groups or states designated as foreign terrorist organizations after February 20 2025, or non‑state groups involved in illegal drug trafficking, unless a formal war declaration or specific authorization for force is provided. The bill also clarifies that defensive actions or support for civil authorities are still permitted.

Key Provisions

  • Congress finds it has not declared war or given a specific authorization for force against the listed terrorist or drug‑related entities.
  • The President must terminate any use of U.S. forces against those entities unless a war declaration or specific authorization is obtained.
  • The resolution does not prevent the U.S. from defending itself against an armed attack or from using forces to support civil authorities in counternarcotics operations; drug trafficking alone is not considered an armed attack.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

September 19, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 19, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

September 19, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 19, 2025

IA

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. J. RES. 126

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 19, 2025

Mr. Crow submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

JOINT RESOLUTION

A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities 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)

Congress has not declared war upon, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for use of military force against—

(A)

any organization designated on or after February 20, 2025, as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a)) or as a specially designated global terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism);

(B)

any states in which those entities operate; or

(C)

any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and other related activities.

(3)

The designation of an entity as a foreign terrorist organization or specially designated global terrorist provides no legal authority for the President to use force against members of designated organizations or any foreign state.

(4)

There has been no armed attack on the United States by—

(A)

any organization designated on or after February 20, 2025, as a foreign terrorist organization or specially designated global terrorist;

(B)

any states in which those entities operate; or

(C)

any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and other related activities.

(5)

The United States military strike on a vessel on September 2, 2025, and the subsequent United States military strike on a vessel on September 15, 2025, constitute, within the meaning of section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)), 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. The application of the War Powers Resolution is without prejudice as to whether the strikes themselves violated United States domestic law, international humanitarian law, or international human rights law.

(6)

Congress has not received sufficient information regarding—

(A)

the vessels' passengers, cargo, or affiliation;

(B)

the vessels' intended destinations;

(C)

any threats the vessels posed to United States interests;

(D)

any justification for the use of lethal force against the vessels;

(E)

the availability of non-lethal means to interdict the vessels; or

(F)

the purported domestic authority or international legal basis to conduct the strikes.

(7)

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 to require the removal of United States Armed Forces engaged in hostilities without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization shall be considered in accordance with the expedited procedures of section 601(b) of the International Security and Arms Control Export Act of 1976.

(8)

Congress is resolved to provide resources and authorities to the executive branch to prevent and mitigate drug and narcotics trafficking into the United States, including through the use of intelligence, law enforcement, personnel, and detection technology at and between ports of entry and diplomatic and military tools as appropriate to deter, prevent, and prosecute illicit drug and narcotics trafficking, and will consider providing additional resources and authorities if they are requested by the President to combat the spread of illegal drugs.

(9)

On September 4, 2025, the President formally notified Congress of the September 2, 2025, strike, noted the potential for further military strikes, and stated that it is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that will be necessary to address the continuing threat of drug trafficking emanating from unspecified countries by unspecified organizations.

2.

Termination of use of Armed Forces

(a)

Termination

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 the provisions of section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against any organization designated on or after February 20, 2025, as a foreign terrorist organization or specially designated global terrorist, any states in which those entities operate, or any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and other related activities, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force.

(b)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the United States from defending itself from an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack or using the United States Armed Forces in support of civil authorities as part of authorized counternarcotics operations. The trafficking of illegal drugs does not itself constitute such an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack.