Compare & Contrast Proposals: Authorizations for Use of Military Force

Should Congress authorize the use of military force against ISIS?

Several versions of authorization exist but none have been approved. Weigh in on the proposals currently in Congress.

Authorizes "necessary and appropriate force" against ISIL and "its associated forces, organizations, and persons, and successor organizations"
Requires report to Congress every 60 days
References anti-ISIL Coalition; beheadings of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff; deaths of American aid worker (and former Army ranger) Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig, Army Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler (the first U.S. service member killed in action in the U.S. military campaign against ISIS), American hostage Kayla Mueller; Pope Francis's call to action to stop ISIS; ISIS threat to attack Washington, DC; Paris, France attacks

Does not authorize the deployment of ground forces in a combat role
Repeals the 2002 authorization of force that led to the invasion of Iraq
Requires report to Congress every 60 days
Limits authorization to three years
Allows for any lawmaker to offer a privileged motion to force a "timely debate" to repeal or revise the authorization resolution

Authorizes "necessary and appropriate force" against ISIL and any "individuals and organizations fighting for, on behalf of, or alongside ISIL"
Repeals the 2002 authorization of force that led to the invasion of Iraq
Requires report to Congress every 90 days

Authorizes forces "against ISIL, any closely related successor entity, or associated persons or forces"
Repeals the 2002 authorization of force that led to the invasion of Iraq
Limits authorization to three years
References ISIS's "descipable acts of violence and mass executions against Muslims," threatened genocides against religious groups, anti-ISIL Coalition, beheadings of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, death of American aid worker (and former Army ranger) Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig, and American hostage Kayla Mueller
Expressly states that the use of US ground troops in combat against ISIL, except to protect the lives of US citizens from imminent threat, is not consistent with purpose of this bill

Authorizes "all necessary and appropriate force" with no restrictions on ground troops
Leaves other authorizations of force in place
Requires report to Congress every 60 days
Authorization has no time limits
References recent attacks in Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, and France
References beheadings of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, deaths of Army Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler (the first U.S. service member killed in action in the U.S. military campaign against ISIS) and American aid worker (and former Army ranger) Peter Kassig, American hostage Kayla Mueller, Pope Francis's call to action to stop ISIS, and ISIS threat to attack Washington, DC.

Repeals the 2002 authorization of force that led to the invasion of Iraq
Requires a report to Congress at least once every six months
Limits authorization to three years
Purpose: "to protect the lives of US citizens and to provide military support to regional partners in their battle to defeat ISIL"
Expressly states that the use of US ground troops in combat against ISIL, except to protect the lives of US citizens from imminent threat, is not consistent with purpose of this bill

Expressly does not authorize use of forces in "enduring offensive ground combat operations"
Repeals the 2002 authorization of force that led to the invasion of Iraq
Requires report to Congress "at least once every six months" of actions taken under the authorization
Limits authorization to three years

First 100 Days of the 115th Congress