Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-24

Text of Senate Amendment 6276

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Context

On 2026-06-24, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6276" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 6276

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3430] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6276. Mr. KAINE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1271. WAR POWERS RESOLUTION AMENDMENTS. (a) Meaning of Introduction of United States Armed Forces Into Hostilities for Purposes of the War Powers Resolution.-- Section 4 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(d) Rule of Construction Regarding Introduction Into Hostilities.--For purposes of subsection (a), the phrase `United States Armed Forces are introduced into hostilities' shall be construed to include any use of lethal or potentially lethal force by or against United States Armed Forces, whether or not constituting self-defense measures by the United States Armed Forces, and irrespective of the domain, whether such force is deployed by or against United States Armed Forces using remotely launched, piloted, or directed attacks, or the intermittency thereof.''. (b) Modification of Timelines Applicable to Removal of United States Armed Forces for Purposes of the War Powers Resolution.--Section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``Within sixty calendar days'' and inserting ``Within ten calendar days''; (2) by striking ``extended by law such sixty-day period'' and inserting ``extended by law such ten-day period''; and (3) by striking ``Such sixty-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional thirty days'' and inserting ``Such ten-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional ten days''. (c) Modification of Reporting Requirement To Include Legal Justification.--Section 4(a) of the War Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) any legal opinion, memorandum, or analysis provided to any other office or agency, or person in any other office or agency, in the Executive Branch, including any office in the Department of Justice, the National Security Council, the White House, or the Executive Office of the President, relating to the introduction of United States Armed Forces.''. ______

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Text of Senate Amendment 6276 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3430] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6276. Mr. KAINE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1271. WAR POWERS RESOLUTION AMENDMENTS. (a) Meaning of Introduction of United States Armed Forces Into Hostilities for Purposes of the War Powers Resolution.-- Section 4 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(d) Rule of Construction Regarding Introduction Into Hostilities.--For purposes of subsection (a), the phrase `United States Armed Forces are introduced into hostilities' shall be construed to include any use of lethal or potentially lethal force by or against United States Armed Forces, whether or not constituting self-defense measures by the United States Armed Forces, and irrespective of the domain, whether such force is deployed by or against United States Armed Forces using remotely launched, piloted, or directed attacks, or the intermittency thereof.''. (b) Modification of Timelines Applicable to Removal of United States Armed Forces for Purposes of the War Powers Resolution.--Section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``Within sixty calendar days'' and inserting ``Within ten calendar days''; (2) by striking ``extended by law such sixty-day period'' and inserting ``extended by law such ten-day period''; and (3) by striking ``Such sixty-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional thirty days'' and inserting ``Such ten-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional ten days''. (c) Modification of Reporting Requirement To Include Legal Justification.--Section 4(a) of the War Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) any legal opinion, memorandum, or analysis provided to any other office or agency, or person in any other office or agency, in the Executive Branch, including any office in the Department of Justice, the National Security Council, the White House, or the Executive Office of the President, relating to the introduction of United States Armed Forces.''. ______