S.J.Res. 98: A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.
Sponsor
Timothy Kaine
Democrat · VA
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jan 14, 2026
Point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under 50 U.S.C. 1546(a) raised against the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 9.
30 senators move to block any Venezuela war without Congress
Why it matters
Thirty senators — 29 Democrats plus Republican Rand Paul — are pushing S.J.Res. 98 to force a yes-or-no Senate vote on whether U.S. forces can stay engaged in hostilities involving Venezuela without a war declaration or a specific authorization from Congress. If it passes, the President would have to wind those operations down unless lawmakers approve them or the U.S. is responding to an actual armed attack.
S.J.Res. 98 is a war powers resolution. It directs the President to end U.S. Armed Forces involvement in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless Congress passes a declaration of war or a specific authorization for the use of military force.
The resolution's premise: Congress has never declared war on Venezuela and has never passed a specific authorization covering operations there. Sponsors argue that means any sustained military action falls outside the executive branch's authority and needs a fresh congressional vote.
There is one carveout. Nothing in the bill stops the United States from defending itself from an armed attack or an imminent armed attack. The target is open-ended military involvement, not emergency self-defense.
The procedural fight is at least as important as the substance. War powers resolutions are designed to bypass the filibuster through expedited consideration. On January 14, the Senate split 50-50 on a point of order arguing S.J.Res. 98 doesn't qualify for that fast track. The tie left the path forward in dispute.
S.J.Res. 98 Bill Summary
What S.J.Res. 98 actually does.
Congress must vote before any sustained Venezuela operations
The resolution directs the President to end U.S. Armed Forces involvement in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless Congress passes a declaration of war or a specific military authorization.
Sponsors say no authorization currently exists
The bill's findings state that Congress has never declared war on Venezuela and has never enacted a specific statutory authorization for using military force there.
Venezuela operations would count as war powers hostilities
The resolution specifies that any U.S. military force within or against Venezuela falls under the War Powers Resolution framework, putting it squarely inside Congress's lane.
Self-defense is preserved
The bill explicitly preserves the United States' ability to defend itself against an armed attack or the threat of an imminent armed attack.
Built to bypass the filibuster
S.J.Res. 98 is written to use the expedited war powers procedures that normally let a resolution clear the Senate with a simple majority. The 50-50 vote on January 14 left that fast track contested.
Who benefits from S.J.Res. 98?
U.S. service members who could be deployed to Venezuela operations
They would get a clearer rule: no continued hostilities in or against Venezuela unless Congress votes yes or the U.S. is acting in immediate self-defense.
Military families pushing for a public vote
If a loved one could be sent into danger, the resolution would require lawmakers to make that call on the record instead of leaving it entirely inside the executive branch.
Senators trying to reclaim war powers
Both parties have spent decades watching war-making authority drift to the White House. This bill is designed to force the Senate to either authorize the conflict or order it to stop.
Voters tracking how their senator votes
Roll call votes on war powers measures are some of the rare moments when individual senators have to publicly say where they stand on a specific potential conflict.
Who is affected by S.J.Res. 98?
The President and the Pentagon
If S.J.Res. 98 passes, the executive branch would be ordered to wind down hostilities involving Venezuela unless Congress passes a war declaration or a specific authorization, or the U.S. is responding to an armed attack.
U.S. forces in Venezuela-related missions
Any operation that meets the War Powers Resolution's definition of hostilities within or against Venezuela could be subject to termination under the bill.
Senate leadership
They would have to decide whether and how to bring the measure back to the floor after the 50-50 procedural vote on January 14 left expedited consideration in dispute.
Future administrations weighing Venezuela action
Even if S.J.Res. 98 doesn't become law, the floor fight signals that a substantial bloc in the Senate wants a direct congressional vote before any sustained U.S. military involvement in Venezuela can continue.
What Congress Is Saying
S.J.Res. 98 has come up 26 times in the Congressional Record so far.
S.J.Res. 98 also appeared in 11 more Senate floor references and 9 routine cosponsor filings.
SJRES98 Legislative Journey
Action Taken
Jan 14, 2026
Point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under 50 U.S.C. 1546(a) raised against the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 9.
Committee Action
Jan 8, 2026
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 5, by motion, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1546a.
Committee Action
Dec 3, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
About the Sponsor
Timothy Kaine
Democrat, VA · 13 years in Congress
Committees: Foreign Relations, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Armed Services
View full profile →
Cosponsors (30)
This bill has 30 cosponsors: 28 Democrats, 1 Republican, 1 Independent. Cosponsors represent 19 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, and 16 more.
Rand Paul
Republican · KY
Charles Schumer
Democrat · NY
Adam Schiff
Democrat · CA
Ruben Gallego
Democrat · AZ
Jeff Merkley
Democrat · OR
Brian Schatz
Democrat · HI
Peter Welch
Democrat · VT
Tammy Duckworth
Democrat · IL
Chris Van Hollen
Democrat · MD
Richard Blumenthal
Democrat · CT
Bernie Sanders
Independent · VT
Michael Bennet
Democrat · CO
Committee Sponsors
Foreign Relations Committee
9 of 22 committee members cosponsored
2 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
S.J.Res. 98 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Foreign Relations
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- International Affairs
- Introduced
- Dec 3, 2025
Point of order that the measure is not entitled to expedited procedures under 50 U.S.C. 1546(a) raised against the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 9.
Jan 14, 2026
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the resolution, including text, actions, sponsors, and status.
This is the core federal war powers statute referenced by the resolution's findings and hostilities framework.
The bill specifically cites section 4(a) of the War Powers Resolution, codified at 50 U.S.C. 1543(a), for reporting when U.S. forces are introduced into hostilities.
This provision is expressly cited in the bill as the basis for expedited consideration of resolutions directing removal of U.S. forces.
The findings begin with Article I, Section 8, Clause 11, which gives Congress the power to declare war.
Official GovInfo PDF of the War Powers Resolution as enacted, useful for the original statutory language behind the bill's framework.
Official record of the 50-50 procedural vote on whether S.J.Res. 98 was entitled to expedited war-powers consideration.
S.J.Res. 98 Common Questions
What would S.J.Res. 98 actually do?
It would order the President to end U.S. military hostilities within or against Venezuela unless Congress passes a war declaration or a specific authorization. Self-defense against an armed attack is still allowed.
Does the U.S. already have authorization for military action in Venezuela?
The resolution argues no. Sponsors say Congress has never declared war on Venezuela and has never passed a specific statutory authorization for using military force there.
Would this stop the U.S. from defending itself?
No. The bill explicitly preserves the right to defend the United States from an armed attack or the threat of an imminent armed attack. The target is open-ended operations, not emergency self-defense.
Why did the Senate split 50-50 on this?
The January 14 vote wasn't on the resolution itself. It was on a point of order arguing S.J.Res. 98 doesn't qualify for the expedited war-powers procedures that bypass the filibuster. The tie left that fast track in dispute.
Who is sponsoring S.J.Res. 98?
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the resolution with 30 cosponsors. The list is almost entirely Democratic and Independent — Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is the lone Republican signed on.
Does this cut off funding for the military?
No. S.J.Res. 98 contains no funding cutoff and no penalty. It works through a directive ordering the President to terminate the covered hostilities, not by pulling the money.
Is this the same as a declaration of war?
No — it's the opposite. A declaration of war affirmatively authorizes military force. S.J.Res. 98 directs the President to end forces' involvement in hostilities Congress hasn't approved.
What happens if S.J.Res. 98 clears the Senate?
It would still need to pass the House and survive a likely presidential veto, which would require two-thirds of both chambers to override. Even Senate passage alone would be a major political signal.
Based on S.J.Res. 98 bill text
S.J.Res. 98 Bill Text
“To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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