Washington, DC—Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) today urged the U.S. Senate to pass a historic resolution to end unconstitutional U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s genocidal war in Yemen. Later today, the U.S. Senate will vote on the historic legislation, and its passage would mark the second time the U.S. Senate has backed a resolution to withdraw U.S. forces from a military engagement under the War Powers Act. The congresswoman cosponsored and voted to pass similar legislation in the U.S. House last month. U.S. support of the Saudi-led war in Yemen has triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, leaving more than 22 million Yemeni civilians in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Video of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s Floor Speech is Available Here

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said:

“Today in Yemen, there are millions of Yemeni people are on the brink of death from famine, disease, and a lack of access to food and water, basic medicine, and health care. Thousands of Yemeni civilians have died in this genocidal war being waged by Saudi Arabia with support from the United States. They’ve been living under the looming threat of death at a moment’s notice. This must end. Not another day can go by with U.S. support for this genocidal war.

“Saudi Arabia is not our ally. They spend billions of dollars spreading the Wahhabi Salafist ideology that fuels terrorist organizations like ISIS and Al Qaeda. They take the weapons that they get from the United States and provide them to Al Qaeda. Enough is enough. Today, the Senate is taking an important vote, and I urge my Senate colleagues to hear the pleas of the Yemeni people who are begging for their lives. Vote today to end the unconstitutional U.S. support of Saudi Arabia’s genocidal war.”

Background: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a leading voice for peace in Congress, advocating against counterproductive, regime-change wars. She has called for ending support for Saudi Arabia, pushed for additional oversight on acquisition and cross-service agreements (Section 1271 of the FY19 NDAA), supported three resolutions in the 115th Congress (H. Con. Res. 81, H. Con Res. 138, and H. Con. Res 142) that sought to stop U.S. military participation in Saudi Arabia's war against the Houthis in Yemen, in addition to bipartisan legislation (H.R. 7082) that would immediately stop all military sales and aid to the government of Saudi Arabia, and more. The congresswoman also led a letter calling on former Speaker Paul Ryan to schedule an immediate vote on a bipartisan resolution to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

Last congress, Reps. Tulsi Gabbard and Walter Jones introduced H.Res 922, which would reclaim Congress’s constitutional right to declare war by:

Defining presidential wars not declared by Congress under Article I, section 8, clause 11 (Declare War Clause) as impeachable “high crimes and misdemeanors”

Prohibiting the President from perpetuating ongoing wars or supplying war materials, military troops, trainers, or advisers, military intelligence, financial support or their equivalent in association, cooperation, assistance, or common cause without first receiving congressional authorization

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