FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On November 1, the House leadership removed the "privileged" status of H.Con.Res.81, the Khanna-Massie-Pocan-Jones resolution invoking the War Powers Resolution to end unauthorized U.S. participation in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. That privileged status, as mandated by the War Powers Resolution, would have guaranteed H.Con.Res.81 a floor vote. It is now expected that this resolution will not get a vote on the House floor this month.

Groups which led the campaign for a House floor vote on H.Con.Res.81 released the following statement in response to this action:

"We are deeply disappointed that House leadership has again prevented a debate and vote on ending U.S. participation in the Saudi-led war effort in Yemen, which is largely responsible for the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. We remind the House leadership that under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, ‘introduction of United States Armed Forces' includes the assignment of member of such armed forces to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany the regular or irregular military forces of any foreign country or government when such military forces are engaged….’ U.S. refueling of Saudi and UAE planes bombing Houthi targets in Yemen meets that definition, therefore by law H.Con.Res.81 should have been privileged.

We thank Reps. Ro Khanna, Thomas Massie, Mark Pocan, Walter Jones, and the other co-sponsors for their leadership in diligently seeking a debate and vote on the U.S. role in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. We applaud their effort for bringing unprecedented and long-overdue discussion and attention to this matter and we continue to urge Democratic and Republican Representatives to co-sponsor H.Con.Res.81.

We call for the introduction of companion legislation to H.Con.Res.81 in the Senate. We will not rest until unauthorized U.S. participation in the famine-inducing war in Yemen has ended."

Yemen Peace Project

Win Without War

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Peace Action

CREDO Action

Just Foreign Policy

Campaign for Liberty

CODEPINK

United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)

Press Contacts:

Kate Kizer, Yemen Peace Project, kate@yemenpeaceproject.org, 202-770-1453

Stephen Miles, Win Without War, stephen@winwithoutwar.org, 504-289-3594

Robert Naiman, Just Foreign Policy, naiman@justforeignpolicy.org, 217-979-2857

Paul Kawika Martin, Peace Action, pmartin@peace-action.org, 951-217-7285

Norm Singleton, Campaign for Liberty, norm.singleton@campaignforliberty.com, 703-407-1589