H.R. 5543: No War Against Iran Act

116th Congress · introduced 2020-01-07 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2020-01-07 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

No War Against Iran Act

Plain summary

No War Against Iran Act This bill prohibits the obligation or expenditure of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran unless Congress has either declared war or enacted specific statutory authorization for such use. An exception is made for a presidential exercise of power to introduce Armed Forces into hostilities (or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated) when there is a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States. The bill further states that no prior authorizations of military force (e.g., against Iraq) may be construed to authorize the use of military force against Iran.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

No War Against Iran Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] · 106 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Adam Smith (D-WA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Garamendi (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), James A. Himes (D-CT), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Judy Chu (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Al Green (D-TX) and 46 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] reported raising $15.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr5543.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr5543 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116