2026 House Resolution 268

Whereas, On February 28, 2026, the United States initiated a new phase of the conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States and Israel have attacked numerous targets in Iran, and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has been killed, along with other senior Iranian security leaders. Early in this phase of the conflict, an elementary school adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Naval Forces base was struck by a missile, reportedly killing at least 175 individuals, most of them children. Preliminary findings in an ongoing investigation by the U.S. military indicate that the United States was likely responsible for the strike, with outdated data having been used to label the building as a target; and

Whereas, This conflict is already adding instability to the region, with potential unforeseen consequences for countries aligned with and against the United States. Some nations have been directly impacted by the conflict, with Iran launching strikes against bases in the region hosting U.S. forces and launching retaliatory attacks against targets in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Commentators have remarked that the conflict may impact domestic politics in the region, create opportunities for fragmentation and territorial struggles, and disrupt local economies; and

Whereas, The price of gasoline has risen sharply since the start of the conflict with Iran. On February 28, 2026, the national average price of gasoline was $2.98 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel and $3.76 per gallon for diesel. As of March 18, 2026, the national average price had increased to $3.842 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel and $5.068 per gallon for diesel, an increase of over 86 cents for regular and over $1.30 for diesel in less than a month. Average gasoline prices in Michigan have similarly increased over the last month, rising from $2.918 to $3.869 for regular and from $3.703 to $4.904 for diesel. These price increases have been driven by decreased shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which was declared “closed” by Iran on March 4, 2026, and has remained closed to the United States and its allies, as well as by attacks on oil infrastructure. Even after the conflict ends, gasoline prices may remain elevated for months to years, as it will take time for traffic through the Strait to fully resume. The conflict is directly impacting Michiganders at the pump, and it will have ramifications across the economy as higher gasoline prices increase costs up and down the supply chain; and

Whereas, This conflict is of special concern to our agricultural industry, as trade disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz also threaten the international shipping of fertilizer and fertilizer inputs. Countries directly involved in the conflict or dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for shipping contribute 45 percent of global sulfur exports, 34 percent of global urea exports, 13 percent of global natural gas exports, and 12-23 percent of global exports of key phosphate products. A sustained disruption to these exports could drive up the cost of agricultural production, putting pressure on farmers and ultimately driving up food costs, again impacting Michiganders’ daily lives; and

Whereas, Under the United States Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 states: “The Congress shall have Power . . . To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water”; and

Whereas, The War Powers Resolution, 50 U.S.C. § 1541 et seq., recognizes the primary authority of Congress in this area by requiring the President of the United States to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities when directed by Congress. Specifically, Section 5(c) of the act provides: “at any time that United States Armed Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the United States, its possessions and territories without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so directs by concurrent resolution.” The act also establishes expedited procedures for the consideration of these concurrent resolutions in either chamber, as well as expedited procedures for the consideration of a joint resolution or bill on this subject in the Senate; and

Whereas, Resolutions to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Iran were recently considered in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. On March 4, 2026, the United States Senate narrowly rejected a motion to discharge Senate Joint Resolution 104 from committee, 47-53, and on March 5, 2026, a vote on adopting House Concurrent Resolution 38 in the United States House of Representatives failed by just a few votes, 212-219. On both votes, there was bipartisan support for advancing the resolution and moving to end the conflict; and

Whereas, A top official in the Trump Administration has resigned in protest of the conflict in Iran. On March 17, 2026, Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation from the Administration, writing that he could not “in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran.” He stated that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation,” and he indicated that the nation was making a mistake in getting drawn into a “never-ending” conflict; and

Whereas, The President of the United States is unilaterally entering the United States into a war, in violation of the separation of powers under the Constitution and against the interests of our nation. His actions have demonstrated a lack of respect for international law and human rights, and are likely to damage the U.S. economy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we call on the United States Congress to adopt a concurrent resolution, joint resolution, or bill directing the President of the United States to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress, pursuant to the War Powers Resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That we call on the President of the United States to cease hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran and remove the United States from this conflict; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.