H.Con.Res. 93 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
Cosponsors: 14 (14 D, 0 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-14
Introduced: 2026-04-28
Latest action (2026-09-16): Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
What H.Con.Res. 93 does, in plain terms
This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran. Elements of the U.S. Armed Forces needed to defend the United States, an ally, or a partner from imminent attack are not covered by this requirement provided the President complies with a specified provision of the War Powers Resolution. (The provision generally requires the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities no more than 60 days after the President notifies or is required to notify Congress of such involvement, unless Congress authorizes such use. For more information on the War Powers Resolution, see CRS In Focus 13134.)
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service, via Congress.gov.
Constitution Index
“VFA Constitution grade”
Constitutionally sound
Graded 2026-10-08
SI-generated grade · five published checks · not individually reviewed by a person · methodology
HCONRES 93 is constitutional. It enforces the Article I war powers of Congress, infringes no rights, restricts no individual liberty, keeps war decisions at the constitutionally assigned federal legislative level, and observes due process.
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✓ Passes · Enumerated powers
Congress has explicit authority under Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures, plus Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 to make laws necessary and proper to execute those powers. Directing removal of forces absent a declaration of war or authorization enforces those enumerated powers and the Declare War Clause allocation. -
✓ Passes · Bill of Rights
The resolution restricts no speech, religion, press, assembly, arms, privacy, or trial rights. It limits executive war-making, which protects liberty rather than infringing the First through Tenth Amendments. No search, seizure, or taking is authorized. -
✓ Passes · Individual sovereignty
The measure imposes no restriction on personal bodily integrity, property, speech, labor, or belief. It reduces the burden of undeclared hostilities on life, liberty, and public resources, consistent with the Ninth Amendment retention of rights and the Fifth Amendment liberty guarantee. Government bears its burden by acting through representative authorization. -
✓ Passes · Decentralization
National defense and war with a foreign nation cannot be handled by individuals, counties, or single states, so questions 1-3 are correctly negative. The resolution does not consolidate power upward; it returns war decisions from the President to Congress as the Tenth Amendment and separation of powers require, at the minimum necessary federal level. -
✓ Passes · Due process and takings
Under the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause, the resolution provides procedural regularity through public concurrent resolution, committee referral, and defined exceptions for self-defense. It orders no punishment, seizure, or taking of property without just compensation.
Sources: Congress.gov: HCONRES 93 summary
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