American veterans group supports legislative action to block U.S. support for Saudi-led war in Yemen
ARLINGTON, Va.—Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) on Tuesday urged passage of S.J. Res. 56, the Yemen War Powers Resolution. An affirmative vote in favor of the privileged resolution would send a strong signal to Saudi Arabia that America will not continue underwriting hostilities. More concretely, it would terminate the possibility of further direct U.S. military support, intelligence sharing, and logistical cooperation with Riyadh.
CVA Executive Director Russ Duerstine issued the following statement ahead of the Senate vote on the war powers resolution:
“In his first foreign policy speech as commander in chief, delivered nearly two years ago, President Biden promised to ‘end all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen.’ Yet, Saudi bombings and blockades continued. The fragile ceasefire—which recently expired—risks total collapse.
America’s complicity in this conflict—an heirloom executive action which has been passed from one presidential administration to the next since 2015—diminishes our international standing, ignores the constitutional separation of powers, and detracts from Congressional prerogative.
Congress has a rare bipartisan opportunity to end U.S. involvement in Yemen, dissolving American proximity to this gruesome conflict that serves no strategic interest. It will also eliminate any lingering preconceptions about U.S. endorsement of the Saudis’ catastrophic military campaign. Finally, it will reaffirm the heavy task entrusted to Congress to initiate, oversee, and end U.S. military hostilities.”
BACKGROUND
For years, CVA has encouraged Congress to repeal outdated AUMFs, append prudent revisions to the War Powers Act of 1973, and employ its powers to end—or forestall—U.S. involvement in hostilities that do not serve the American interest.
On Tuesday, December 12, CVA’s partner organization—Americans for Prosperity—issued a Key Vote Alert urging Congress to support S.J. Res. 56, the Yemen War Powers Resolution. This vote will be recorded in AFP’s 2022 legislative scorecard.
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