Velazquez on Yemen Resolution

Washington, DC –Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement regarding H. J. Res. 37, legislation aimed at removing U.S. involvement in Yemen's civil war:

"This resolution would bring a long overdue end to U.S. involvement in this conflict.

"Today, 22.2 million Yemenis rely on humanitarian assistance to survive. Three million people have been forced from their homes by the fighting. Conservative estimates – by the United Nations - suggest 6,000 civilians have died and almost 10,000 have been injured. Other organizations have said as many as 80,000 may have perished.

"Many of these atrocities are being committed with weapons manufactured here, in the U.S., and sold to Saudi Arabia. Amnesty International has documented at least 36 air strikes that appeared to violate international law. We must remember – those are just strikes that were seen, documented and were clear violations of international law. They do not count so-called incidental casualties from other air strikes.

"We should be clear -- these actions are being conducted with U.S.-made weapons. A bomb manufactured by an American company was dropped on a bus by the Saudi-led coalition last August. It killed 51 people. 40 of them were children.
"Equally horrifying, many observers have suggested these tactics are purposeful -- that the Saudis and their allies view the death of civilians as a needed pressure point to sap their enemies of public support.

"Meanwhile, aside from direct military deaths, the country is now sliding toward what may become the worst famine in living memory. 14 million people – nearly half the entire population could soon depend on aid to survive.

"Our nation cannot stand for this. Our complicity in this conflict should shake the conscience of every American. Congress must step forward and end our involvement in this humanitarian catastrophe. For these reasons I will be voting yes on this resolution."