← Back to Bills
S.J.Res. 98Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

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

Sponsored by Tim KaineSen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Introduced December 3, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 13, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC

The joint resolution orders the President to end any United States military actions against or within Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. It asserts Congress’s exclusive authority to declare war and aims to withdraw U.S. forces engaged in such hostilities. The measure applies to all U.S. Armed Forces operating in or against Venezuela.

Key Provisions

  • Congress finds it has not declared war on Venezuela nor passed a specific authorization for the use of force there, making any such military action unauthorized.
  • The President is directed to terminate all U.S. military hostilities in or against Venezuela unless a war declaration or specific authorization is provided.
  • The directive does not limit the United States from defending itself against an armed attack or an imminent threat.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

6 earlier actions
SenateFloor Latest Action

Point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under 50 U.S.C. 1546(a) raised against the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 9.

View vote Passed

January 14, 2026

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

December 3, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Foreign Relations Committee

December 3, 2025

SenateDischarge

Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations made. (consideration: CR S100)

Foreign Relations Committee

January 8, 2026

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 5, by motion, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546a.

Foreign Relations Committee
View vote Agreed

January 8, 2026

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 298.

January 8, 2026

SenateFloor

Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S218)

January 14, 2026

SenateFloor

Point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under 50 U.S.C. 1546(a) raised against the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 9.

View vote Passed

January 14, 2026

Voting History

2 votes recorded • Roll call available

SENATE

Roll Call Available

January 14, 2026 at 5:51 PM

On the Point of Order S.J.Res. 98

Majority required: 1/2 (50%)

Tie-breaker: Vice President of the United States cast a Yea vote

Passed

50 - 50

SENATE

Roll Call Available

January 8, 2026 at 10:59 AM

On the Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 98

Majority required: 1/2 (50%)

Agreed

52 - 47

Floor Debate

5 members

What members said about S.J.Res. 98 on the floor

4 Republicans1 Democrat
John Thune
Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Jan 7, 2026

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in recess until 10 a.m., Thursday, January 8; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of…

Record
Tim Kaine
Sen. Tim KaineD-VA · Jan 8, 2026

Mr. President, pursuant to section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Control Act of 1976, I move to discharge the Committee on Foreign Relations from further consideration of…

Record
James E. Risch
Sen. James E. RischR-ID · Jan 14, 2026

Mr. President, I make a point of order--raise a point of order--that this joint resolution is not entitled to privilege under 50 U.S.C. 1546a due to U.S. troops not being engaged in hostilities. Vote…

Record
John Barrasso
Sen. John BarrassoR-WY · Jan 8, 2026

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Montana (Mr. Daines).

Record
Tim Kaine
Sen. Tim KaineD-VA · Jan 14, 2026

Mr. President, I therefore move to proceed to Calendar No. 298, S.J. Res. 98.

Record
Show 1 more
Roger F. Wicker
Sen. Roger F. WickerR-MS · Jan 8, 2026

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Record

Bill Text

2 versions available

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Placed on Calendar SenateIssued January 8, 2026

IIA

Calendar No. 298

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. J. RES. 98

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 3, 2025

Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Paul, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Welch, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Markey, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Luján, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Kim, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Coons, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Peters, Mr. Padilla, and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

January 8 (legislative day, January 7), 2026

Committee discharged, by motion, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546a, and placed on the calendar

JOINT RESOLUTION

To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela 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 Venezuela or any person or organization within or operating from Venezuela, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for use of military force within or against Venezuela.

(3)

The use of military force by the United States Armed Forces within or against Venezuela 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)).

(4)

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 from imminent engagement 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 Export Control Act of 1976.

2.

Termination of the use of United States forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela

(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 within or against Venezuela, 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 to prevent the United States from defending itself from an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack.

January 8 (legislative day, January 7), 2026

Committee discharged, by motion, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546a, and placed on the calendar