HB2193 restrict the deployment of the Virginia National Guard into active combat situations unless Congress has officially declared war or taken constitutional action to execute U.S. laws, repel invasions, or suppress insurrections. The bill defines "active duty combat" and aims to ensure that the National Guard is not sent into combat without explicit federal authorization. This legislation reflects concerns about the use of state military forces in overseas conflicts without formal congressional approval.
The Virginia State House of Delegates passed HB2193 on February 4, 2025 by a vote of 99 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this would nullify unconstitutional federal deployments of the National Guard. A congressional declaration of war is constitutionally required to enter into a foreign conflict or for another constitutional reason, in accordance with Article I, Section 8, Clauses 11 and 15, of the U.S. Constitution.
