Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment.

We have all seen the horrific reports coming from human rights groups on the ground in Yemen, where American-made cluster bombs are being used by Saudi Arabia against innocent bystanders--all under the guise of attacking Houthi rebels.

Earlier this year, the Saudi-led coalition dropped cluster bombs in Yemen's capital of Sana'a, specifically targeting known civilian neighborhoods. One of the buildings hit was the Al Noor Center for Care and Rehabilitation for the Blind, which also has a school for blind children. The destruction of the school and the injuries sustained by the children was unbearably gruesome.

This deliberate and reckless use of cluster munitions by Saudi Arabia highlights their complete disregard for the welfare of innocent people.

These actions are unacceptable. There is something fundamentally wrong with preaching human and civil rights here at home while we export death abroad. We cannot ignore our duty to protect basic human rights and values here and around the world. Unfortunately, as long as we sell cluster munitions to Saudi Arabia, these outrageous violations will continue to occur.

I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.

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