NOVANEWS
In Historic Vote, Senate Advances War Powers Resolution to End US Complicity in Saudi Assault on Yemen
“Today’s victory is a testament to the power of grassroots activism across the country to bring about change,” said Diane Randall, FCNL’s Executive Secretary. “This vote sets a historic precedent for future action Congress can take to reclaim its constitutional authority over war and end American involvement in wars around the world.” (Photo: Twitter/ @PeaceAction)
In a historic vote that could “mark the beginning of the end of American complicity” in Saudi Arabia’s mass atrocities in Yemen, the Senate on Wednesday voted to advance Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) Yemen War Powers resolution by an overwhelming margin of 63-37.
“Today’s victory is a testament to the power of grassroots activism across the country to bring about change.”
—Diane Randall, Friends Committee on National Legislation
“I’ve been at this for three years, and I am blown away by this,” wrote Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who sponsored the resolution alongside Sanders and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah.). “The Senate just voted, for the first time, to move forward with a debate on ending American involvement in the Yemen war.”
According to Sanders communications director Josh Miller-Lewis, Wednesday marks “the first time the Senate has voted to advance a War Powers resolution.” Every single Democratic senator joined 14 Republicans in voting to move the measure forward.
Bernie Sanders✔@SenSanders
For the first time, the U.S. Senate just voted to advance a resolution withdrawing U.S. Armed Forces from an unauthorized and unconstitutional war.
Let us bring this catastrophic war in Yemen to an end, and help bring peace and humanitarian aid to this tortured country.
WE WON! 63 Senators just voted to defy Trump and advance #SJRes54 to end U.S. support for the Saudi and UAE war in #Yemen. It’s about time and thanks to the tireless efforts of @SenSanders @ChrisMurphyCT @SenMikeLee. Onto to the next vote because #YemenCantWait!
GREAT NEWS: US Senate just voted overwhelmingly, 63-37, to allow debate on Sanders-Lee-Murphy bill to stop US/Saudi war in #Yemen #SJRes54. First time legislation to stop US involvement #Yemen war has advanced!!! .#YemenCantWait #JusticeForJamal pic.twitter.com/dNJzvpNv5K
✔@IndivisibleTeam
This resolution is a harsh rebuke to the #TrumpThreatLevel – and the biggest piece of leverage available to hold Saudis accountable for their war crimes, and for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
✔@IndivisibleTeam
This is step one — a procedural vote that moves the legislation forward. There are more steps to come. Likely next week, the Senate will pick this back up. That means it’s not too late to call your senators and urge them to support the Yemen resolution: https://indivisible.org/resource/trump-covering-saudi-arabia%E2%80%99s-murder-jamal-khashoggi …
“Today’s victory is a testament to the power of grassroots activism across the country to bring about change,” said Diane Randall, executive secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). “This vote sets a historic precedent for future action Congress can take to reclaim its constitutional authority over war and end American involvement in wars around the world.”