STATEMENT: KHANNA, SANDERS INTRODUCE AMENDMENT TO END SUPPORT FOR SAUDI-LED COALITION’S WAR IN YEMEN

Washington, DC – September 15 – Today, Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) issued the following statement announcing their re-introduction of an amendment to the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prohibit U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition's war against the Houthis in Yemen. The Khanna-Sanders Yemen Amendment to the NDAA is a revised version of a similar amendment the duo introduced to the FY20 NDAA, passed out of the House in 2019 and again in 2020, but stripped out by the Trump Administration in conference negotiations.

"While the Biden Administration has made important progress in curbing U.S. military assistance to the Saudi-led coalition, U.S. taxpayer dollars still bankroll the maintenance and spare parts for Saudi warplanes raining down bombs on Yemeni men, women, and children amidst the world's largest humanitarian crisis. This must end.

The NDAA's inclusion of the Khanna-Sanders amendment would terminate U.S. logistical support, and the transfer of spare parts to Saudi warplanes conducting aerial strikes. It would also enshrine into law the Biden Administration's decision to end intelligence sharing that enable offensive strikes and end any U.S. effort to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany Saudi-led coalition forces in the war.

This is the first NDAA since the start of the Saudi-led coalition's military intervention in 2015 when Democrats have had control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. The House of Representatives is set to vote on the NDAA just weeks after the United Nations Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen warned of all parties responsible for violations of international law that may amount to war crimes, and called on all countries to end military support for the warring parties. Congress should send a clear message that the U.S. will no longer enable American complicity in the Saudi-led coalition's brutal war by passing this amendment in the NDAA."

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