Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution
Public Law 102-1 · H.J.Res. 77 · 102nd Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Jan 14, 1991 · International Affairs
Major law
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Michel (R-IL-18)
Cosponsors (31): Rep. Stephen Solarz, Rep. Dante Fascell,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 250 yea, 183 nay250–183
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution - Authorizes the President to use U.S. armed forces against Iraq pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 to implement Resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677 (summarized below) after making available to the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that: (1) the United States has used all appropriate diplomatic and other peaceful means to obtain compliance by Iraq with such resolutions; and (2) those means have not been and would not be successful.
Declares that this Act constitutes specific statutory authorization for the use of U.S. armed forces required under the War Powers Resolution.
Requires the President to report to the Congress every 60 days on the status of efforts to obtain compliance by Iraq with the U.N. resolutions.
RESOLUTION 660-AUGUST 2, 1990: Condemns Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and demands immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces.
RESOLUTION 661-AUGUST 6, 1990: Imposes trade embargo and financial sanctions against Iraq and Iraqi-occupied Kuwait. (Medical supplies and humanitarian foodstuffs are exempt from the trade embargo.)
RESOLUTION 662-AUGUST 9, 1990: Declares Iraq's annexation of Kuwait null and void and demands that Iraq rescind the annexation.
RESOLUTION 664-AUGUST 18, 1990: Demands that Iraq permit immediate safe departure of foreign nationals from Iraq and Kuwait. Demands rescindment of Iraq's orders to withdraw diplomatic immunity and close diplomatic missions in Kuwait.
RESOLUTION 665-AUGUST 25, 1990: Calls upon states to enforce the trade embargo against Iraq and Iraqi-occupied Kuwait.
RESOLUTION 666-SEPTEMBER 14, 1990: Provides for humanitarian provision of any necessary food and medical supplies to Iraq and Kuwait.
RESOLUTION 667-SEPTEMBER 16, 1990: Demands that Iraq protect diplomatic personnel and premises and take no action that hinders the performance of their duties.
RESOLUTION 669-SEPTEMBER 24, 1990: Authorizes Sanctions Committee to examine requests for assistance from states confronted with special economic problems related to the sanctions.
RESOLUTION 670-SEPTEMBER 25, 1990: Requires states to cooperate with air embargo and to detain any ships that are being used to violate the sanctions. (Food and medical supplies being shipped for humanitarian reasons are exempt, but subject to authorization.)
RESOLUTION 674-OCTOBER 29, 1990: Reminds Iraq that it is liable under international law for any loss, damage, or injury arising in regard to Kuwait and third states and their nationals as a result of Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
RESOLUTION 677-NOVEMBER 28, 1990: Condemns Iraqi attempts to alter Kuwait's demographic composition and destroy Kuwaiti civil records. Mandates steps to be taken by the U.N. to safeguard the demographic composition of Kuwait.
RESOLUTION 678-NOVEMBER 29, 1990: Authorizes member states to use all means necessary to uphold the above resolutions and restore international peace and security in the region, unless Iraq fully complies with the above resolutions on or before January 15, 1991.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 102nd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 250 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
250 yea183 nay2 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(86)
- Rep. Meldon LevineD-CA-27
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-7- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-19
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-19- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-23- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
- Rep. Peter HoaglandD-NE-2
- Rep. Ben JonesD-GA-4
- Rep. Charles HatcherD-GA-2
- Rep. Jim ChapmanD-TX-1
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5- Rep. James BacchusD-FL-11
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. James BilbrayD-NV-1
- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
- Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-18
- Rep. Charles McMillenD-MD-4
- Rep. John BrowderD-AL-3
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-3- Rep. William BrewsterD-OK-3
- Rep. Robin TallonD-SC-6
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
- Rep. Robert ThomasD-GA-1
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4- Rep. Gregory LaughlinD-TX-14
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
- Rep. Richard SwettD-NH-2
- Rep. Martin LancasterD-NC-3
- Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
Rep. Thomas CarperD-DE- Rep. Ben CampbellD-CO-3
- Rep. Lewis PayneD-VA-5
- Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8- Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
- Rep. Claude HarrisD-AL-7
- Rep. Charles LukenD-OH-1
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4- Rep. William SarpaliusD-TX-13
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Elizabeth PattersonD-SC-4
- Rep. Ben ErdreichD-AL-6
- Rep. Tim ValentineD-NC-2
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-15
- Rep. James HayesD-LA-7
- Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
- Rep. Pete GerenD-TX-12
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. William OrtonD-UT-3
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Mike ParkerD-MS-4
- Rep. Richard RayD-GA-3
- Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Republicans who voted yea(164)
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-15
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-22
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-25
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-29
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-21
- Rep. Ronald MachtleyR-RI-1
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-7
- Rep. Raymond McGrathR-NY-5
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Arthur RavenelR-SC-1
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-34
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-27- Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
- Rep. Steven SchiffR-NM-1
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Dean GalloR-NJ-11
- Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
- Rep. Thomas RidgeR-PA-21
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Susan MolinariR-NY-14
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Jan MeyersR-KS-3
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18- Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
- Rep. Helen BentleyR-MD-2
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-13- Rep. John MillerR-WA-1
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
- Rep. David MartinR-NY-26
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-8- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-18
- Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-2
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-4- Rep. Paul HenryR-MI-5
- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-15
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7- Rep. Rodney ChandlerR-WA-8
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Bill EmersonR-MO-8
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-35- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
- Rep. Frederick GrandyR-IA-6
- Rep. Alex McMillanR-NC-9
- Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
- Rep. Tom CampbellR-CA-12
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. Gary FranksR-CT-5
- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-10- Rep. Rick SantorumR-PA-18
- Rep. Richard ZimmerR-NJ-12
- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Steve BartlettR-TX-3
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-20
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. John WeberR-MN-2
- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-5
- Rep. Craig JamesR-FL-4
- Rep. Daniel SlaughterR-VA-7
- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
- Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
- Rep. Donald SundquistR-TN-7
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21- Rep. William PaxonR-NY-31
- Rep. James LightfootR-IA-5
- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-3
- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Richard NicholsR-KS-5
- Rep. Thomas LewisR-FL-12
- Rep. Alfred McCandlessR-CA-37
- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
- Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-21- Rep. Porter GossR-FL-13
- Rep. Andy IrelandR-FL-10
- Rep. Barbara VucanovichR-NV-2
- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-44
- Rep. Craig ThomasR-WY
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Robert SmithR-OR-2
- Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
- Rep. William ZeliffR-NH-1
- Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-24
- Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
- Rep. Dan SchaeferR-CO-6
- Rep. Bob McEwenR-OH-6
- Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
- Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
- Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-40
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6- Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-43
Rep. Jim InhofeR-OK-1- Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Jon KylR-AZ-4
Rep. David DreierR-CA-33
Rep. Jim BunningR-KY-4
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-45
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2- Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-15
- Rep. Clyde HollowayR-LA-8
- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-38
- Rep. Jack FieldsR-TX-8
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-14
Rep. Wayne AllardR-CO-4
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-42- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6- Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39
- Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
- Rep. Mel HancockR-MO-7
- Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 8 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The record shows no committee referral for this bill.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 7 actions.
- Jan 14, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-1.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jan 12, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- FloorFloor · Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 250 - 183 (Roll No. 9).House roll call 9
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.