Young and Menendez Introduce Comprehensive Yemen and Saudi Arabia Legislation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) yesterday introduced comprehensive bipartisan legislation they authored to ensure effective Congressional oversight of U.S. policy on Yemen, provide leverage to push the stakeholders in Yemen’s civil war toward a political process, address the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and demand meaningful accountability for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018 was also cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine). Senator Young is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Menendez serves as the Ranking Member on that committee. Senator Reed serves as the Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“This legislation provides the Trump administration leverage it should use to push all parties in Yemen to engage in good faith and urgent negotiations to end the civil war and address the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Our national security interests and our humanitarian principles demand nothing less,” said Senator Young.
As USA Today recently reported, Senator Young has led efforts in the Senate related to Yemen since March 2017.
A copy of the Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018 can be found HERE. Key elements of this legislation include:
- Suspension of weapons sales to Saudi Arabia.
- Prohibition on U.S. refueling of Saudi Coalition Aircraft engaged in the civil war in Yemen.
- Sanctions for persons blocking humanitarian access in Yemen.
- Sanctions for persons supporting the Houthis in Yemen.
- Accountability report for all actors in Yemen in violation of international war or guilty of war crimes and harm to civilians.
- Mandatory sanctions on persons responsible for the death of Jamal Khashoggi.
- Report on human rights in Saudi Arabia.
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