S.J.Res. 181Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

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.

Introduced April 13, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 7:32 AM UTC

This joint resolution tells the President to end U.S. combat involvement in Iran because Congress has not declared war or given a specific legal go‑ahead. It cites the February 2026 launch of Operation Epic Fury and the resulting casualties, economic disruption, and threats made by the Trump administration. The bill aims to end the hostilities while still allowing defensive actions, intelligence work, and support to allies.

Key Provisions

  • Congress directs the President to pull all U.S. military personnel out of any combat operations in or against Iran unless Congress formally declares war or passes a specific authorization for the use of force.
  • The directive does not stop the United States from defending itself if attacked, gathering or sharing intelligence about Iran, or helping Israel and other partner nations defend themselves against Iranian attacks.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions
SenateDischarge Latest Action

Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 50. Record Vote Number: 216. (consideration: CR S4357)

July 30, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 13, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

April 13, 2026

SenateDischarge

Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations made. (Pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546a, Department of State Authorization Act). (consideration: CR S4356-4357)

July 30, 2026

SenateDischarge

Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 50. Record Vote Number: 216. (consideration: CR S4357)

July 30, 2026

Floor Debate

4 members

What members said about S.J.Res. 181 on the floor

2 Republicans2 Democrats
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Sen. Kirsten E. GillibrandD-NY · Jul 30, 2026

Mr. President, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546(a) and in accordance with section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act, I move to discharge the Committee on Foreign…

Mike Lee
Sen. Mike LeeR-UT · Jul 29, 2026

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 30; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of…

Charles E. Schumer
Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Jul 30, 2026

Mr. President, I will be brief. Nearly half a year into Trump's ruinous war with Iran, the conflict is widening instead of winding down. More countries get dragged into the mix, more fronts open up,…

John Barrasso
Sen. John BarrassoR-WY · Jul 30, 2026

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell).

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 13, 2026

IIA

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. J. RES. 181

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 13, 2026

Mrs. Gillibrand 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)

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.

(3)

On February 28, 2026, the Trump Administration launched Operation Epic Fury, introducing the United States Armed Forces into hostilities as part of an ongoing and wide-reaching military campaign against the Government of Iran.

(4)

The Trump Administration has repeatedly referred to this operation as a war, including President Donald J. Trump’s statement on February 28, 2026, that the United States has entered into a war with Iran that we did not want but that we are going to win very quickly, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s statement on March 4, 2026, that the terms of this war will be set by us at every step.

(5)

Immediately following the initial attacks of Operation Epic Fury, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) transmitted warnings via VHF radio to all vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that the passage was currently unsafe. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s messaging resulted in a 70 percent drop in maritime traffic within 24 hours. By March 2, 2026, satellite traffic showed zero merchant ships appearing in the Strait of Hormuz. On March 27, 2026, the IRGC officially announced that the Strait was closed to any vessel going to and from ports belonging to the United States, Israel, and United States allies.

(6)

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is considered the largest disruption to the global energy supply in history. By March 8, 2026, oil prices exceeded $100 per barrel for the first time in nearly four years. The United Nations World Food Programme predicts that if the conflict continues, an additional 45,000,000 people worldwide could face food insecurity by the end of the year because roughly one third of the world’s internationally traded fertilizer is carried through the Strait.

(7)

President Trump set an April 7, 2026, 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and in order to force Iran’s compliance, President Trump threatened on social media that a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. He added that he didn’t want that to happen, but it probably will. On April 7, 2026, President Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire to permit peace negotiations but threatened total destruction if his terms are not met. On April 8, 2026, President Trump posted on Truth Social, the Strait must open now. If it stays closed, the two-week deal is over and destruction begins again..

(8)

Later on April 8, 2026, President Trump threatened on social media again that if a final deal is not made, then the Shootin Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. He added that the Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. However, no request for a declaration of war or an authorization to use military force has been submitted to Congress.

(9)

Reports from the Pentagon on April 4, 2026, indicate that more than 50,000 members of the United States Armed Forces have participated in the unprecedented operation. In March, approximately 2,000 soldiers from the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division deployed to the region in support of Operation Epic Fury.

(10)

As of April 8, 2026, seven members of the United States Armed Forces have been killed in combat as part of Operation Epic Fury, and six more crewmembers of a KC–135 refueling aircraft died in a crash in western Iraq. Officially, the Pentagon reports 381 wounded members of the Armed Forces involved in Operation Epic Fury.

(11)

The 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)).

(12)

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 15 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 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 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.