Title: A joint resolution supporting a Diplomatic Solution in Yemen and Condemning the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This joint resolution expresses the Senate's belief that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It criticizes Saudi Arabia's cooperation with, and military equipment purchases from, Russia and China as challenges to the country's long-term relationship with the United States.
The joint resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire in the civil war in Yemen and for the two sides to negotiate a peace agreement. It declares that there is no statutory authority for U.S. involvement in the conflict, including for providing in-air refueling to Saudi aircraft flying missions against the Houthi rebels.
The resolution also condemns the Houthi rebels for human rights violations and the government of Iran for supplying them with weapons.


[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 69 Considered and Passed Senate (CPS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 69

Supporting a Diplomatic Solution in Yemen and Condemning the Murder of 
                            Jamal Khashoggi.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 13, 2018

 Mr. Corker (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Portman, Mrs. 
 Ernst, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Isakson, 
 Mr. Sanders, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Reed) introduced the following joint 
resolution; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and 
                                 passed

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
Supporting a Diplomatic Solution in Yemen and Condemning the Murder of 
                            Jamal Khashoggi.

Whereas the ongoing civil war in Yemen has exacerbated that country's 
        humanitarian crisis, in which nearly 12,000,000 people are suffering 
        from ``severe hunger,'' according to the United Nations' World Food 
        Programme;
Whereas there is no military solution to the conflict;
Whereas the United States-Saudi Arabia relationship is important to United 
        States national security and economic interests;
Whereas the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has, in recent years, 
        engaged in concerning behavior, including its conduct in the civil war 
        in Yemen, apparent detention of the Prime Minister of Lebanon, 
        undermining the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council, expulsion of the 
        Canadian ambassador, suppression of dissent within the Kingdom, and the 
        murder of Jamal Khashoggi;
Whereas misleading statements by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
        regarding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi have undermined trust and 
        confidence in the longstanding friendship between the United States and 
        the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and
Whereas such erratic actions place unnecessary strain on the United States-Saudi 
        Arabia relationship, which is an essential element of regional 
        stability: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the Senate--
            (1) believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is 
        responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi;
            (2) acknowledges the United States Government has 
        sanctioned 17 Saudi individuals under the Global Magnitsky 
        Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of 
        Public Law 114-328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note) for their roles in the 
        murder;
            (3) calls for the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
        to ensure appropriate accountability for all those responsible 
        for Jamal Khashoggi's murder;
            (4) calls on the Government of Saudi Arabia to release Raif 
        Badawi, Samar Badawi, and the Saudi women's rights activists 
        who were arrested as political prisoners in 2018;
            (5) encourages the Government of Saudi Arabia to redouble 
        its efforts to enact economic and social reforms;
            (6) calls on the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
        to respect the rights of its citizens and moderate its 
        increasingly erratic foreign policy;
            (7) warns that the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi 
        Arabia's increasing purchases of military equipment from, and 
        cooperation with, the Russian Federation and the People's 
        Republic of China, challenges the strength and integrity of the 
        long-standing military-to-military relationship between the 
        United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and may introduce 
        significant national security and economic risks to both 
        parties;
            (8) demands that all parties seek an immediate cease-fire 
        and negotiated political solution to the Yemen conflict and 
        increased humanitarian assistance to the victims of the 
        conflict;
            (9) condemns the Government of Iran's provision of advanced 
        lethal weapons to Houthi rebels, which have perpetuated the 
        conflict and have been used indiscriminately against civilian 
        targets in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Bab 
        al Mandeb waterway;
            (10) condemns Houthi rebels for egregious human rights 
        abuses, including torture, use of human shields, and 
        interference with, and diversion of, humanitarian aid 
        shipments;
            (11) demands that the Saudi-led coalition and all parties 
        to the Yemen conflict seek to minimize civilian casualties at 
        all times;
            (12) supports the peace negotiations currently being 
        managed by United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and 
        encourages the United States Government to provide all possible 
        support to these diplomatic efforts;
            (13) declares that there is no statutory authorization for 
        United States involvement in hostilities in the Yemen civil 
        war; and
            (14) supports the end of air-to-air refueling of Saudi-led 
        coalition aircraft operating in Yemen.
                                 <all>