Senators look to force vote on all security assistance to Saudis
A bipartisan pair of senators is looking to force a vote on all aspects of U.S. security assistance to Saudi Arabia, the latest in a string of actions from lawmakers increasingly fed up with the Trump administration’s support for Riyadh.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) will introduce Monday a resolution to require the administration to report on Saudi Arabia’s human rights practices, the first step in forcing a vote on the security assistance.
“This administration has effectively given a blank check to the Saudis—turning a blind eye to the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi and allowing their ballistic missile program to expand,” Murphy said in a statement Sunday. “Congress needs to change how we do business with the Kingdom. The process we are setting in motion will allow Congress to weigh in on the totality of our security relationship with Saudi Arabia, not just one arms sale, and restore Congress’s role in foreign policy making.”
Under the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act, Congress can vote to request the administration provide information within 30 days on a particular country’s human rights practices. Once Congress receives the human rights report, it can then vote to end any aspect of security assistance to that country.
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/447640-senators-look-to-force-vote-on-all-security-assistance-to-saudis