S.J.Res.54 (text here) - A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress. Today this Sanders-Lee-Murphy bipartisan bill was tabled in the Senate with these Democrats voting to table it: Coons (D-DE), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Donnelly (D-IN), Heitkamp (D-ND), Jones (D-AL), Manchin (D-WV), Menendez (D-NJ), Nelson (D-FL), Reed (D-RI), Whitehouse (D-RI). These votes must be explained by those Democratic Senators.
Senator Durbin’s (D-IL) position is this:
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen raises many concerns for the Yemeni people.
In March 2015, Saudi Arabia established a coalition of nations to engage in military operations against terrorist groups in Yemen, and the war in Yemen has continued unabated since that time. The United States has played various roles in supporting this Saudi-led coalition, ranging from technical military assistance to intelligence assistance.
This war has taken a heavy toll on civilians in Yemen, creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. According to the United Nations Children's Fund, a child in Yemen is dying every ten minutes from preventable diseases such as malnutrition, diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections. With millions of Yemenis lacking access to basic health care, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services, they are experiencing the world's largest ongoing cholera outbreak. The extremely violent and dangerous conditions of the war have hampered the ability of international aid organizations to deliver life-saving assistance to these people.
Before war broke out in 2015, Yemen was the poorest country in the Middle East already. Saudi Arabia's involvement in the war has deeply worsened conditions for Yemeni civilians. In November 2017, after an attack from a Yemeni terrorist group, Saudi Arabia established a blockade of all of Yemen's ports, stopping the flow of humanitarian assistance into the country. Although Saudi Arabia ended its months-long blockade at Hodeidah recently, the long-lasting humanitarian effects of this blockade continue. The United Nations cited Saudi Arabia's blockade as the leading factor tipping Yemen into famine, with 8.4 million Yemeni children a step away from starvation.
A number of initiatives to lessen the impacts of this conflict on civilian lives exist.
Senator Durbin is a cosponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 40 (S.J.Res.40—A joint resolution to provide limitations on the transfer of air-to-ground munitions from the United States to Saudi Arabia), which would end all bomb and missile sales or transfers to Saudi Arabia until Saudi Arabia certifies that it is taking all feasible precautions to reduce the civilian harm resulting from the usage of such weapons, that it is making a demonstrable effort to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into Yemen, and that it is targeting designated foreign terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda and affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. This resolution has been referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Durbin also cosponsors S.J.Res.54, the bill tabled today but not yet beyond passage. It would require the President to remove U.S. armed forces from Yemen, except those engaged in operations directed at eliminating Al Qaeda from the Arabian Peninsula. Removal of troops would occur unless the President directly requests, and Congress authorizes, a declaration of war or authorization for the armed forces to operate in Yemen. We can no longer support Saudi Arabia's deplorable behavior in Yemen. This resolution was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Since March 2015, the United States has been the largest contributor of humanitarian aid to Yemen, providing a total of $767.5 million in assistance between this year and last. Senator Durbin is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and will continue to support this humanitarian assistance to Yemen.
The United States must continue its leadership in working toward solutions to humanitarian crises around the world. No child or family should have to worry about starving because their country is at war.
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Senate Fact Sheet, footnotes & hyperlinks: Key points on Sanders-Lee joint resolution invoking War Powers Resolution to end unauthorized U.S. participation in Saudi-led war in Yemen
With U.S. support, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are deliberately using starvation as a weapon of war in Yemen and allowing diphtheria and cholera to ravage the country. The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has called the situation in Yemen the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
Clearly: This is a United States war in Yemen. Our government gives Saudi Arabia bombs and planes. Our troops even deliver fuel to Saudi jets in midair while they conduct bombings.
Yet it’s never had any legal justification. It’s a disastrous war never authorized by Congress or debated by the public. It has nothing to do with fighting Al-Qaeda or ISIS. In fact, it’s making these groups stronger according to the intelligence community.
S.J.Res.54 is the Sanders-Lee resolution, our biggest, best shot to stop the suffering. But, the Senate has already taken steps to delay this critical vote - we need you to make your voice heard to prevent them from canceling it all together!
So, refocus on the point of this diary:
Today’s “Yes” votes to table S.J.Res.54 must be justified by Democratic Senators who voted “Yes”.