Cold War Military Force Repeal Act
The Cold War Military Force Repeal Act removes an old 1958 law that authorized the President to use military force in the Middle East without a specific declaration of war. This legislation directly affects the legal framework governing U.S. military actions in the region by eliminating the authority granted under Public Law 85-7. By repealing this specific joint resolution, the bill clarifies that future military engagements in the Middle East must rely on current statutory or constitutional authorities rather than this historical mandate. The change does not create new powers or restrictions but simply deletes a provision from the United States Code that has been in place since the Cold War era.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jul 30, 2026
Last action Jul 30, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jul 30, 2026
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
upper
Jul 30, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Tim Kaine
DDemocratic
Co
Jeff Merkley
DDemocratic
Co
Mike Lee
RRepublican
Co
Rand Paul
RRepublican
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