Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 6046, which would force the administration to designate the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization, an FTO, a designation that risks jeopardizing the very lifesaving assistance Yemeni civilians are dependent on for their survival.

Let me be clear. Everyone in this body recognizes the threat the Houthis pose both in Yemen and the Red Sea. We have seen the Iran- backed proxy launch a campaign of missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, attempting to halt global trade, violating international law. Their disruptive campaign has not only endangered merchant vessels, but also United States personnel with the clear- stated intention of harming Israel and any of its allies.

That said, I believe that this legislation is the wrong approach. The Biden administration has undertaken the correct approach. In response to the Houthis' unprecedented attack in the Red Sea, the administration, rather than unilaterally, worked multilaterally with more than 40 countries to curb the Houthi behavior while not escalating tension in the Middle East.

The administration has targeted military strikes on Houthi targets and implemented, specifically, specially designated global terrorist sanctions with appropriate humanitarian provisions.

Working collectively with our allies, not America alone, is the way that we win this battle. That is the correct route instead of this measure, which does not address the Houthi threat.

Instead, it undermines the United States' national security objective in the region and endangers innocent Yemenis, who are already on the brink of perishing.

First, the H.R. 6046 mandate does not include humanitarian provisions, thereby unnecessarily punishing millions of Yemeni civilians. This would create a scenario in which commercial vessels and humanitarian organizations would not be able to continue to provide lifesaving goods to many Yemenis due to severe criminal penalties they would incur for doing so.

After nearly a decade of brutal war, the majority of the Yemenis, nearly half of them children, face serious malnutrition, and millions more Yemenis remain on the brink of starvation. This legislation would only deepen the humanitarian crisis at a time when aid is most needed. That is why a broad coalition of NGOs and humanitarian organizations oppose an FTO designation without humanitarian provisions.

While some may point to existing general licenses or provisions as a mitigating factor, the legal implications of an FTO designation and the sweeping consequences it entails, without regard to type of activity or transaction, renders such licenses moot without any such new statutory authorizations or exemptions.

Secondly, this designation would also undercut important ongoing diplomatic efforts by the United States, the U.N., and European countries to achieve de-escalation in the region, the world, together. That is the right thing to do.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, this bill is theatrical. It will have no real- world impact on the Houthi behavior, but would likely serve as a public relations win and recruiting fodder for the movement while, at the same time, the people that would be punished are the Yemenis, those innocent children and women and men. It is unnecessary.

This and any future administration already has the authority to implement such a designation per section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Mr. Speaker, for these reasons and others, I urge my colleagues not to support H.R.

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Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6046 would force the administration to designate the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization without humanitarian provisions and, consequently, make the humanitarian crisis in Yemen even more dire.

Now, Mr. Clyde says that the Biden administration doesn't want to call the Houthis what they are, but let me read what they are and sanctioned already. They are a specially designated global terrorist. That is what the Biden administration issued. The difference between the two, being an SDGT as opposed to being an FTO, is one allows humanitarian aid in, and the other doesn't.

This bill would have significant adverse impacts, creating a situation in which humanitarian organizations and commercial shippers would be reluctant to provide food, aid, and medical equipment to Yemen out of fear of the severe criminal consequences this bill would impose.

It does nothing really to change the Houthis' behavior. It just hurts innocent Yemeni people. Therefore, I support the administration's efforts to counter Houthi actions with targeted military strikes and the implementation of that specially designated global terrorist sanction, which includes the humanitarian provisions that this bill lacks. This is, by far, the better path toward ceasing hostile Houthi actions.

The Biden administration's approach holds the Houthis responsible for their violent, destabilizing actions without deepening the crisis for innocent Yemeni citizens.

I am going to stand with a broad coalition of NGOs, humanitarian organizations, and those that understand the wealth and the need and the richness of human life, trying to save human beings, not turning our backs on them with a piece of legislation that will do nothing really to the Houthis or change their behavior.

All of these NGOs, all of these humanitarian organizations, oppose an FTO designation without humanitarian provisions.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to do the same. We should make sure that the NGOs and humanitarian organizations are able to help save innocent lives.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this bill and ask my colleagues to oppose this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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