File:H. Con. Res. 2 (Introduced in House) - To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and its associated forces.pdf

English: CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against the Islamic

       State of Iraq and the Levant and its associated forces.

Whereas the terrorist organization referred to as the Islamic State of Iraq and

       the Levant and various other names (in this concurrent resolution 
       referred to as ``ISIL) has been systematically targeting, kidnapping, 
       and killing innocent men, women, and children throughout Iraq and Syria, 
       continues to expand its terror influence, and is responsible for recent 
       attacks in Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, and France;

Whereas foreign fighters, undeterred by the more than 60 nation coalition

       operating against ISIL, continue to join the ranks of ISIL with the goal 
       of establishing a caliphate;

Whereas, on June 19, 2014, President Barack Obama stated that ``ISIL poses a

       threat to the Iraqi people, to the region and to U.S. interests;

Whereas, on August 19, 2014, ISIL released a video of the beheading of an

       American journalist, James Foley, and threatened to kill more Americans;

Whereas, on September 2, 2014, ISIL released a second video, of the beheading of

       an Israeli-American journalist, Steven Sotloff, and again threatened to 
       kill more;

Whereas a Central Intelligence Agency assessment in September 2014 estimated

       that ISIL can muster as many as 31,500 fighters in Syria and Iraq alone;

Whereas, on November 16, 2014, ISIL released yet another video of militant

       ``Jihadi John standing over the severed head of former Army Ranger 
       Peter Kassig;

Whereas Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler, a member of a United States Special

       Forces operations team, was killed during a daring raid on an ISIL 
       stronghold in Iraq to rescue 70 prisoners who were slated to be 
       executed;

Whereas American hostage Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old female, was kidnapped and

       repeatedly raped for almost 18 months by the leader of ISIL, Abu Bakr 
       al-Baghdadi;

Whereas, on November 13, 2015, ISIL carried out a coordinated attack on Paris,

       France, killing more than 129 people from at least 14 different 
       countries, including American student Nohemi Gonzalez;

Whereas, on November 16, 2015, Central Intelligence Agency Director Brennan

       warned, following ISIL's horrific terrorist in Paris, that the attack 
       was likely ``not the only operation that ISIL has in the pipeline;

Whereas, on August 18, 2014, Pope Francis said that the international community

       would be justified in stopping ISIL;

Whereas, on August 21, 2014, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

       General Dempsey stated that ISIL ``has an apocalyptic, end-of-days 
       strategic vision and which will eventually have to be defeated;

Whereas, on September 16, 2014, former Secretary of Defense Hagel testified

       before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that ``if left 
       unchecked, ISIL will directly threaten our homeland and our allies;

Whereas, on September 17, 2014, during a hearing of the Committee on Foreign

       Relations of the Senate, Secretary of State Kerry stated that ``ISIL 
       must be defeated. Period. End of story;

Whereas, on March 13, 2015, Central Intelligence Agency Director Brennan stated

       that ``ISIL is well-armed and well-financed. Its fighters are 
       disciplined, committed, and battle-hardened. Left unchecked, the group 
       would pose a serious danger not only to Syria and Iraq, but to the wider 
       region beyond, including the threat of attacks in the homelands of the 
       United States and our partners;

Whereas, on July 23, 2015, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Comey stated

       that ``[t]he threat that ISIL presents to the United States is very 
       different in kind, in type, in degree than al Qaeda. ISIL is not your 
       parent's al Qaeda, it's a very different model. And by virtue of that 
       model, it's currently the threat that we are worried about in the 
       homeland most of all;

Whereas, on November 16, 2015, following the attacks on Paris, France, ISIL

       released a video threatening to ``strike America at its center in 
       Washington;

Whereas, on November 17, 2015, former Central Intelligence Agency Director

       Panetta warned that countering the threat posed by ISIL ``isn't about 
       containment. It is about defeating ISIS. I think if there's anything we 
       ought to understand from these last events [in Paris], it's that we have 
       to go to war against this brutal enemy;

Whereas after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress authorized

       the use of military force against al Qaeda;

Whereas ISIL poses a direct threat to the United States homeland that is equal

       to or greater than the threat posed by al Qaeda prior to the terrorist 
       attacks of September 11, 2001; and

Whereas, although nothing in this concurrent resolution limits the authorities

       of the President under article 2 of the Constitution of the United 
       States, Justice Robert H. Jackson wrote in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. 
       v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952) that ``[w]hen the President acts pursuant 
       to an express or implied authorization of Congress, his authority is at 
       its maximum, for it includes all that he possesses in his own right plus 
       all that Congress can delegate: Now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

   This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ``Authorization for 

Use of Military Force Against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and its Associated Forces.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

   (a) In General.--The President is authorized to use all necessary 

and appropriate force in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, its associated forces, organizations, and persons, and any successor organizations.

   (b) War Powers Resolution Requirements.--
           (1) Specific statutory authorization.--Consistent with 
       section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, Congress declares 
       that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory 
       authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War 
       Powers Resolution.
           (2) Applicability of other requirements.--Nothing in this 
       concurrent resolution supercedes any requirement of the War 
       Powers Resolution.

SEC. 3. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

   (a) Reports.--The President shall, at least once every 60 days, 

submit to Congress a report on matters relevant to this concurrent resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 2.

   (b) Single Consolidated Report.--To the extent that the submission 

of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission of any other report on matters relevant to this concurrent resolution otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting requirements of the War Powers Resolution, all such reports

may be submitted as a single consolidated report to Congress.