Congress·In Committee·S.J.Res. 104

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.

Sens. Kaine and Paul Push Senate to Limit Unauthorized U.S. Military Action Against Iran

View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Part of: Congressional War Powers and Military Action in Iran

Next up: A senate committee

A senate committee must act next: committee consideration.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

This proposal, introduced by Senators Kaine and Paul, would require the President to stop any U.S. military fighting against Iran that has not been officially approved by Congress. It is based on the rule that the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the power to declare war.
The plan includes clear exceptions for self-defense. The U.S. military would still be allowed to defend American troops and buildings from attack and could continue to gather and share information about threats with allies like Israel.
The U.S. would also be allowed to keep helping Israel and other partner nations protect their own territory. This includes providing defensive equipment and support to help those countries stop incoming attacks from Iran or groups supported by Iran.
This measure is intended to prevent the country from being drawn into a large-scale war without a public debate and a formal vote by elected representatives in Congress.

National Security Foreign Policy

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works

Veterans are not directly targeted by this resolution, but many veterans advocate for Congress to exercise its war powers before committing troops to new conflicts. If this resolution prevented a wider war, it could reduce the likelihood of future veterans dealing with combat-related injuries and trauma from an Iran conflict. However, the bill is still in early stages and its passage is uncertain.

ImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Milestones

2 milestones3 actions

Mar 4, 2026Senate

Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 53. Record Vote Number: 46. (consideration: CR S796)

Jan 29, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Jan 29, 2026

Introduced in Senate

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

Vote Results

1 vote

SenateFailedProceduralMar 4, 2026

On the Motion to Discharge

Democrat

44 – 1

Republican

1 – 52

Independent

2 – 0

View full roll call

News

news_articleunknown

Democrats poised to escalate pressure on GOP with repeated votes on Iran war powers

news_articleunknown

House rejects effort to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran war as GOP lawmakers stick with Trump

Washington Postunknown

War powers vote will test Senate's support for Trump's war with Iran

POLITICOunknown

GOP backs Trump's war powers as Iran conflict drags on

Reutersunknown

US Democrats will try, and try again, to rein in Trump's Iran war powers

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

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.

Bill NumberSJRES 104

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionMotion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 53. Record Vote Number: 46. (consideration: CR S796)