(CNN) The Senate is preparing to confront the White House over its support for Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing, moving toward a floor vote next week to curtail US involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, while a powerful committee prepares to deliver a swift rebuke to the kingdom's crown prince over his alleged role in the murder.

But the moves may end up amounting to little more than a symbolic rebuke to Saudi Arabia and the White House. GOP leaders are navigating complicated Senate procedures and may limit next week's floor debate to focus narrowly on the Yemen resolution, a move that could punt floor action on bills to suspend arm sales with Saudi Arabia and sanction the crown prince until next year.

Still, senators warned Thursday that taking initial steps on those measures -- even if they don't immediately become law -- would send a stern message that the United States will not tolerate Saudi's actions in Yemen, the killing of Khashoggi and the kingdom's efforts to cover it up.

"It's un-American," said Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, referring to President Donald Trump's suggestions that US arms sales with Saudi Arabia are more important than a strong response to the murder of a journalist. "When we provide aid to other countries, we do so because we want to see good things happen in those countries. We espouse American values around the world. And to say, 'Well, no. They're going to buy some arms for us and so it's OK to kill a journalist,' sends exactly the wrong message about who we are as a country."

At a private lunch Thursday, GOP senators grappled with the historic process of using the War Powers Act of 1973 to end US involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. It's a process, senators said, that hasn't been used before in a similar way -- so whatever action the Senate takes as soon as next week would set a precedent for future Senate action over the War Powers Act.

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