US Federal House Bill HCR40

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/16/26
• Introduced: 6/23/25
• Refer: 6/23/25

Caption

Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

Summary

HCR 40 is a concurrent resolution invoking the War Powers Resolution to direct the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. The resolution states that U.S. forces should be withdrawn from such hostilities unless Congress has explicitly authorized military action through a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force against Iran. It preserves a narrow exception for forces necessary to defend the United States or an ally or partner from an imminent attack, so long as the President complies with the War Powers Resolution’s reporting requirements. In practical terms, the measure is a congressional assertion of authority over the use of military force and a limitation on unilateral executive military action involving Iran. It does not create new domestic regulatory programs or appropriations, but it would affect federal war powers policy by directing the executive branch to end unauthorized hostilities and by reaffirming the need for congressional approval before sustained military engagement with Iran.

Impact

The resolution would affect federal war powers practice rather than state law, and it would operate through the War Powers Resolution framework at 50 U.S.C. 1544(c). If adopted, it would signal Congress’s position that U.S. forces should be removed from hostilities with Iran absent explicit statutory authorization, while preserving emergency defensive actions and the reporting obligations in section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution. The principal affected parties are the President, the Department of Defense, and U.S. Armed Forces engaged in or supporting operations related to Iran.

Sentiment

The available vote history suggests the measure was highly divisive and narrowly defeated, with 212 yeas and 213 nays on the resolution. That close margin indicates substantial support for limiting military engagement with Iran, but also significant opposition to the resolution’s constraints on executive flexibility. No committee transcript is available here, so the recorded floor vote is the main indicator of sentiment.

Contention

The central point of contention is the balance between congressional control over war powers and presidential authority to respond to threats involving Iran. Supporters appear to favor requiring explicit congressional authorization before hostilities continue, while opponents likely object to restricting the President’s ability to act quickly in defense of U.S. forces, allies, or partners. The exception for imminent attack and the requirement to comply with War Powers reporting may also have been debated as to whether they provide sufficient flexibility or are too narrow.