Title: A joint resolution to require certifications regarding actions by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, and for other purposes.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This joint resolution requires the Department of State to periodically certify to Congress that Saudi Arabia is undertaking: (1) a good faith effort to conduct diplomatic negotiations to end the civil war in Yemen, (2) appropriate measures to increase access for Yemenis to food, fuel, and medicine, and (3) measures to reduce civilian casualties from its military operations in Yemen.
If the State Department is unable to so certify, no federal funds may be obligated or expended for U.S. air refueling of non-U.S. aircraft conducting missions in Yemen other than missions related to:

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 58 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 58

 To require certifications regarding actions by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 11, 2018

   Mr. Young (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Coons) 
  introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 To require certifications regarding actions by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING ACTIONS BY SAUDI ARABIA IN YEMEN.

    (a) Initial Certification.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a certification whether the 
Government of Saudi Arabia is undertaking--
            (1) an urgent and good faith effort to conduct diplomatic 
        negotiations to end the civil war in Yemen;
            (2) appropriate measures to alleviate the humanitarian 
        crisis in Yemen by increasing access for Yemenis to food, fuel, 
        and medicine, including through Yemen's Red Sea ports, the 
        airport in Sana'a, and external border crossings with Saudi 
        Arabia; and
            (3) demonstrable action to reduce the risk of harm to 
        civilians and civilian infrastructure resulting from its 
        military operations in Yemen, including by complying with 
        applicable agreements and laws regulating defense articles 
        purchased or transferred from the United States.
    (b) Subsequent Certifications.--Not later than 180 and 360 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a certification 
whether the Government of Saudi Arabia is undertaking the efforts 
described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a).
    (c) Restriction.--If the Secretary of State is unable under 
subsections (a) and (b) to certify that the Government of Saudi Arabia 
is taking demonstrable action as described in subsection (a), no 
Federal funds may be obligated or expended to provide in-flight 
refueling, pursuant to any agreement authorized by section 2342 of 
title 10, United States Code, or other applicable statutory authority, 
of Saudi and Saudi-led coalition non-United States aircraft conducting 
missions in Yemen other than missions related to--
            (1) al Qaeda, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and 
        the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS);
            (2) countering the transport, assembly, or employment of 
        ballistic missiles or components in Yemen;
            (3) helping coalition aircraft return safely to base in 
        emergency situations; or
            (4) force protection of United States aircraft, ships, or 
        personnel.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this joint resolution may be 
construed as authorizing the use of military force.
    (e) Form of Certifications.--The certifications required under 
subsections (a) and (b) shall be written, detailed, and submitted in 
unclassified form.
    (f) Strategy Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with 
the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development, shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress an unclassified report listing United States 
objectives in Yemen and detailing a strategy to accomplish those 
objectives. The report shall be unclassified but may include a 
classified annex.
    (g) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
        Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
        Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        House of Representatives.
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