# H.Con.Res. 38 (119th): This concurrent resolution directs the President to terminate the use of U.S

This concurrent resolution directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of the Iranian government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted. The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack.

## How this bill is scored

Tier: no Tier 1 record. A bill with no record cannot newly become Tier 1.
Lane: congressional_authorization. Category: not stored. Lane tag: not stored.
Lane: de_escalation. Category: war_peace. Lane tag: prudential.
Lane: family_policy. Category: children. Lane tag: command.
Lane: iran. Category: not stored. Lane tag: not stored.
Lane: war_powers. Category: not stored. Lane tag: not stored.
Tier 1 sign-off: no record. A bill with no record cannot newly become Tier 1.
Stored polarity: good. A yea supports the bill. A nay is the penalized direction when the tag is scored as a protection. A yea on a credit tag is a credit.
Roll 85: On Agreeing to the Resolution. Vote type: final_passage.
Polarity rationale: Reviewed enrichment (llm_import) polarity: The measure directly restrains the use of U.S. armed force in hostilities against Iran absent a declaration of war or statutory authorization. That restraint guards against unauthorized killing in war and upholds constitutional accountability. The self-defense carve-out keeps it from restricting prudent defense against imminent attack, so it is not merely prudential. The metadata is thin (generic title, null policy area), so the classification rests on the summary text.
Theological note: Scripture grants the civil magistrate the sword for justice (Romans 13:4), and the Reformed tradition holds that war must be just, lawfully authorized, and restrained by general equity. A measure that requires lawful authorization before hostilities and preserves defense against imminent attack bears on the moral duty to avoid unjust killing and on accountable civil authority. This is issue relevance, not a final candidate judgment.

## Recorded votes

Roll 85: On Agreeing to the Resolution. Yea 212 · Nay 219 · Other 1.

HTML: https://justmeasure.org/bill/hconres-38-119/