H.R. 8435 — War Powers Priority Procedures Modernization Act

This section extends the priority procedures of the War Powers Resolution to joint resolutions (in addition to concurrent resolutions) for directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces engaged in hostilities outside U.S. territory without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization. Specifically, the section (1) includes joint resolutions in the congressional action procedures of Sec. 5(c); (2) updates Sec. 7, including its heading, to reference joint resolutions wherever concurrent resolutions are mentioned; (3) limits debate on a presidential veto message for such a joint resolution to 20 hours in the Senate and 20 hours in the House; and (4) applies these procedures notwithstanding the restriction in the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 to concurrent resolutions only. (As background, the War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing forces to hostilities and withdraw them after 60 days absent congressional authorization; concurrent resolutions directing withdrawal previously lacked the force of law due to the constitutional legislative veto doctrine.)