Limiting Emergency Powers Act of 2023

HR 121, the Limiting Emergency Powers Act of 2023, requires Congress to approve new national emergencies within 30 days or the emergency automatically ends. It limits the duration of any declared emergency to a maximum of two years unless renewed by both the President and Congress through a joint resolution. If an emergency terminates, unobligated funds must be returned to their original purpose, construction contracts related to the emergency must end (unless work started before termination), and emergency powers cease. This bill directly affects the President’s ability to declare emergencies and Congress’s role in approving or ending them.