Whereas the terrorist organization th
at has referred to itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant and various other names (in
this resolution referred to as ‘‘
ISIL’’) poses a grave threat to
the people and territorial integrity
of Iraq and Syria, regional stab
ility, and the national security
interests of the United States
and its allies and partners;

Whereas ISIL holds significant territory in Iraq
and Syria and has stated its intention to seize
more territory and demonstrated the capability to do so;

Whereas ISIL leaders have stated that they in
tend to conduct terrorist
attacks internationally,
including against the United States
, its citizens, and interests;

Whereas ISIL has committed despicable acts of
violence and mass executions against Muslims,
regardless of sect, who do not subscribe to ISIL’s
depraved, violent, a
nd oppressive ideology;

Whereas ISIL has threatened genocide and committed vicious acts of violence against religious
and ethnic minority groups, in
cluding Iraqi Christian, Yezi
di, and Turkmen populations;

Whereas ISIL has targeted innocent women and
girls with horrific acts
of violence, including
abduction, enslavement, torture,
rape, and forced marriage;

Whereas ISIL is responsible for the deaths of
innocent United States ci
tizens, including James
Foley, Steven Sotloff, Abdul-Rahman Pe
ter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller;

Whereas the United States is working with regional
and global allies and pa
rtners to degrade and
defeat ISIL, to cut off its funding, to stop the flow
of foreign fighters to
its ranks, and to support
local communities as
they reject ISIL;

Whereas the announcement of the anti-ISIL Coalition on September 5, 2014, during the NATO
Summit in Wales, stated that ISIL poses a se
rious threat and should
be countered by a broad
international coalition;

Whereas the United States calls on its allies and
partners, particularly in the Middle East and
North Africa that have not already done so to jo
in and participate in the anti-ISIL Coalition;

Whereas the United States has taken military action
against ISIL in accordance with its inherent
right of individual and
collective self-defense;

Whereas President Obama has repeatedly expres
sed his commitment to working with Congress
to pass a bipartisan authorization for the use of military force for the anti-ISIL military
campaign; and

Whereas President Obama has made clear that in
this campaign it is more effective to use our
unique capabilities in support of
partners on the ground instead of
large-scale deployments of
U.S. ground forces: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Represen
tatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,

That

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the “Author
ization for Use of Military Force against the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.”

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

(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The President is authorize
d, subject to the limitations in subsection
(c), to use the Armed Forces of the United States
as the President determines to be necessary and
appropriate against ISIL or associated pe
rsons or forces as defined in section 5.

(b) WAR POWERS RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS.—

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION.—Consis
tent with section 8(a)(1) of the War
Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1547(a)(1)), Congress
declares that this s
ection is intended to
constitute specific statutory authorization within
the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers
Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)).

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS
.—Nothing in this resolution supersedes
any requirement of the War Powers
Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).

(c) LIMITATIONS.—

The authority granted in subsection (a) does not
authorize the use of the United States Armed
Forces in enduring offensive ground combat operations.

SEC. 3. DURATION OF THIS AUTHORIZATION.

This authorization for the use of military force
shall terminate three years after the date of the
enactment of this joint resolution, unless reauthorized.

SEC. 4. REPORTS.

The President shall report to
Congress at least once
every six months on sp
ecific actions taken
pursuant to this authorization.

SEC. 5. ASSOCIATED PERSONS OR FORCES DEFINED.

In this joint resolution, the
term ‘‘associated persons or
forces’’ means individuals and
organizations fighting for, on beha
lf of, or alongside IS
IL or any closely-related successor entity
in hostilities against the United St
ates or its coalition partners.

SEC. 6. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATION FO
R USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST
IRAQ.

The Authorization for Use of Military Force
Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–
243; 116 Stat. 1498; 50 U.S.C. 1541
note) is hereby repealed.