US Federal House Bill HCR87

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/21/26
• Refer: 4/21/26

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 87 is a concurrent resolution that would direct the President, under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress has first declared war or enacted a specific authorization for the use of military force against Iran. The resolution is aimed at ending U.S. participation in combat operations against Iran and would also cover potential ground forces used in a combat or occupation role. The measure includes several express limitations to clarify what it does not do. It would not prevent the United States from defending itself, U.S. forces, diplomatic facilities, or allied states from an imminent attack, and it would not require the withdrawal of U.S. forces in the region that are not engaged in hostilities with Iran. It also states that it should not interfere with intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities related to threats from Iran or nearby countries, including intelligence sharing when the President determines it is in the national security interest. Finally, it reiterates that the resolution does not itself authorize the use of military force.

Impact

If adopted, the resolution would assert Congress’s war powers authority and seek to limit the President’s ability to continue military hostilities against Iran without further congressional approval. It would not amend the U.S. Code directly, but it would operate under the War Powers Resolution framework and could affect the deployment and mission scope of U.S. Armed Forces in relation to Iran. The resolution is framed to preserve defensive operations, regional troop presence for non-hostile purposes, and intelligence activities, while barring offensive hostilities absent explicit authorization.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected by the bill text is cautious and restrictive toward military escalation, while still preserving defensive and intelligence-related flexibility. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented debate or roll-call evidence here to show broader support or opposition. The resolution’s structure suggests an intent to balance anti-war concerns with national security exceptions.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the constitutional and policy question of whether Congress should direct the President to end hostilities with Iran absent a new authorization, versus allowing the executive branch greater latitude to respond to threats. Supporters would likely emphasize congressional control over war-making and avoiding unauthorized conflict, while opponents may argue the resolution could constrain deterrence or crisis response. Another likely area of dispute is the scope of the exceptions for self-defense, troop presence, and intelligence sharing, which are designed to narrow the resolution’s reach but may still leave room for disagreement over what counts as hostilities.