Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2017”.
Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2017
A BILL
To provide that the President must seek congressional approval before engaging members of the United States Armed Forces in military humanitarian operations.
Sec. 2 Military humanitarian operation defined
In general— In this Act, the term military humanitarian operation means a military operation involving the deployment of members or weapons systems of the United States Armed Forces where hostile activities are reasonably anticipated and with the aim of preventing or responding to a humanitarian catastrophe, including its regional consequences, or addressing a threat posed to international peace and security. The term includes—
operations undertaken pursuant to the principle of the “responsibility to protect” as referenced in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1674 (2006);
operations specifically authorized by the United Nations Security Council, or other international organizations; and
unilateral deployments and deployments made in coordination with international organizations, treaty-based organizations, or coalitions formed to address specific humanitarian catastrophes.
Operations not included— The term military humanitarian operation does not mean a military operation undertaken for the following purposes:
Responding to or repelling attacks, or preventing imminent attacks, on the United States or any of its territorial possessions, embassies, or consulates, or members of the United States Armed Forces.
Direct acts of reprisal for attacks on the United States or any of its territorial possessions, embassies, or consulates, or members of the United States Armed Forces.
Invoking the inherent right to individual or collective self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Military missions to protect or rescue United States citizens or military or diplomatic personnel abroad.
Carrying out treaty commitments to directly aid allies in distress.
Humanitarian missions in response to natural disasters where no civil unrest or combat with hostile forces is reasonably anticipated, and where such operation is for not more than 30 days.
Actions to maintain maritime freedom of navigation, including actions aimed at combating piracy.
Training exercises conducted by the United States Armed Forces abroad where no combat with hostile forces is reasonably anticipated.
Sec. 3 Requirement for congressional authorization
The President may not deploy members of the United States Armed Forces into the territory, airspace, or waters of a foreign country for a military humanitarian operation not previously authorized by statute unless—
the President submits to Congress a formal request for authorization to use members of the Armed Forces for the military humanitarian operation; and
Congress enacts a specific authorization for such use of forces.
Sec. 4 Severability
If any provision of this Act is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected.