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SJRES 98
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A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

S. J. RES. 98 To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

Introduced Dec 3, 2025

Latest action (Jan 14, 2026) Point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under 50 U.S.C. 1546(a) raised against the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 9.

Referred to
Foreign Relations Committee
Policy area
International Affairs
Issues
DefenseForeign Policy
Legislative subjects (6)
Congressional-executive branch relationsCongressional oversightLatin AmericaMilitary operations and strategyVenezuelaWar and emergency powers

Summary

This joint resolution directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress through a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force. The resolution asserts that Congress has not previously declared war on Venezuela or authorized military operations there. It includes an exception allowing the United States to defend itself from an armed attack or imminent threat of armed attack.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)
30 cosponsors

Actions (7)
  1. Jan 14, 2026 Point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under 50 U.S.C. 1546(a) raised against the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 9. · senate
  2. Jan 14, 2026 Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S218) · senate
  3. Jan 8, 2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 298. · senate
  4. Jan 8, 2026 Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 5, by motion, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546a. · senate
  5. Jan 8, 2026 Motion to discharge Senate Committee on Foreign Relations made. (consideration: CR S100) · senate
  6. Dec 3, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. · senate
  7. Dec 3, 2025 Introduced in Senate

How your representatives voted

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Roll-call votes (2)

How the chamber voted on this bill — the outcome, the tally by party, and every member's recorded position. A factual record.

  • On the Point of OrderPoint of Order Well Taken
    Senate · Roll call 9 · Jan 14, 2026

    50 Yea · 50 Nay

    • Democrats0Yea4Nay
    • Republicans3Yea0Nay
    • Independents0Yea1Nay

    The party tally and member list below cover the 8 of 100 positions we've recorded so far; the outcome above is the official chamber result.

    See how each member voted (8)

    Yea(3)

    Nay(5)

  • On the Motion to DischargeMotion to Discharge Agreed to
    Senate · Roll call 5 · Jan 8, 2026

    52 Yea · 47 Nay · 1 Not voting

    • Democrats4Yea0Nay
    • Republicans0Yea3Nay
    • Independents1Yea0Nay

    The party tally and member list below cover the 8 of 100 positions we've recorded so far; the outcome above is the official chamber result.

    See how each member voted (8)

    Yea(5)

    Nay(3)

More bills on these subjects (8)

Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).

  • SJRES 90 — A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. (shares 6 subjects)
  • HCONRES 68 — To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. (shares 5 subjects)
  • HCONRES 64 — To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. (shares 5 subjects)
  • HR 7006 — Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 (shares 4 subjects)
  • HCONRES 75 — Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran. (shares 3 subjects)
  • S 2975 — PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 (shares 3 subjects)
  • SJRES 124 — A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Republic of Cuba that have not been authorized by Congress. (shares 3 subjects)
  • HCONRES 40 — Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. (shares 3 subjects)

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

  • SJRES 90 — A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress. · Introduced Nov 6, 2025 · Cong. 119 97%
  • SJRES 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. · Introduced Mar 4, 2026 · Cong. 119 84%
  • SJRES 185 — 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. · Introduced Jun 24, 2026 · Cong. 119 83%
  • SJRES 183 — 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. · Introduced Apr 13, 2026 · Cong. 119 82%
  • SJRES 163 — 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. · Introduced May 13, 2026 · Cong. 119 82%
  • SJRES 184 — 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. · Introduced Apr 30, 2026 · Cong. 119 81%

Full text

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 3, 2025

Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Paul, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Welch, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Markey, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Lujan, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Kim, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Coons, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Peters, Mr. Padilla, and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

January 8 (legislative day, January 7), 2026

Committee discharged, by motion, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546a, and placed on the calendar

JOINT RESOLUTION

To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution.

(2) Congress has not declared war upon Venezuela or any person or organization within or operating from Venezuela, nor enacted a specific statutory authorization for use of military force within or against Venezuela.

(3) The use of military force by the United States Armed Forces within or against Venezuela constitutes the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities within the meaning of section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)).

(4) Section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a) provides that any joint resolution or bill to require the removal of United States Armed Forces from imminent engagement in hostilities without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization shall be considered in accordance with the expedited procedures of section 601(b) of the International Security and Arms Export Control Act of 1976.

SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF THE USE OF UNITED STATES FORCES FOR HOSTILITIES WITHIN OR AGAINST VENEZUELA.

(a) Termination.—Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a), and in accordance with the provisions of section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force.

(b) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack.

Calendar No. 298

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. J. RES. 98

JOINT RESOLUTION

To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

January 8 (legislative day, January 7), 2026

Committee discharged, by motion, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546a, and placed on the calendar

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