National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022
Floor Speech
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Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on Meeks amendment No. 30.
The facts are plain. Saudi Arabia and its partners have perpetuated a catastrophic and devastating military campaign in Yemen since 2015, with no end in sight and without regard to civilian casualties.
Saudi Arabia's brutal Yemen war has resulted in the world's largest humanitarian crisis, pushed millions of Yemenis to starvation, and decimated Yemen's civilian infrastructure.
Although the frequency and the intensity of the Saudi military's bombing campaign has decreased as it has engaged in efforts to end the war through international negotiations, unfortunately strikes resulting in civilian casualties have continued.
Between January and March 2021, airstrike incidents causing civilian casualties in Yemen actually increased as compared to the previous 3- month period at the end of 2020.
On one such strike on March 7, 2021, Saudi aircraft bombed the residential areas in Sanaa for the first time in months, leaving four civilians injured.
Later in March and into April, further strikes continued, striking transportation infrastructure, residential areas, and a marketplace, leaving dozens of civilians injured, including two children.
The Biden administration took the important step earlier this year of suspending the deliveries of certain weapons to the Saudi military in response to this pattern of actions, as well as appointing veteran diplomat Tim Lenderking as Special Envoy to Yemen.
However, despite these actions and repeated congressional statements and efforts, the Saudi air force has continued conducting strikes in Yemen that have resulted in civilian casualties using U.S. support.
That is why I am introducing this amendment, with the support of Representatives Deutch and Lieu and Chairmen Smith and Schiff, to suspend U.S. sustainment and maintenance to Saudi air units conducting strikes that result in Yemeni civilian casualties.
My amendment also requires a thorough set of reporting requirements to Congress on the extent and details of Saudi offensive air operations and civilian casualties.
It also includes exceptions for necessary counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida and its affiliates, territorial air defense, and defense of U.S. personnel and facilities.
Houthi militants and the Iranian military continue to launch explosive-laden drones and ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia at civilian areas and infrastructure, including many areas where American civilians live and work.
While we seek to urgently address the tragic toll of civilian casualties borne by Yemeni civilians as a result of the Saudi military's expansive air campaign, we recognize that Saudi Arabia does have a right and a need to defend itself, which this amendment provides for.
In short, by suspending ongoing sustainment and maintenance of Saudi aircraft shown to have conducted airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties, we take a critical and necessary step to ensuring the United States is not complicit in or supportive of this destructive, tragic war.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
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Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and Global Counterterrorism of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Mr. MEEKS. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).
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Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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