Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Comprehensive Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined a group of six bipartisan Senators in introducing the Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018, comprehensive legislation to ensure effective congressional oversight of U.S. policy on Yemen, provide leverage to push the stakeholders in Yemen’s civil war toward a political process, address the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and demand meaningful accountability for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.  Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN) Jack Reed (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) joined Senator Collins in introducing the bill

“The time has come to confront one of our allies in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, over the Saudi-led war in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” said Senator Collins.  “The war in Yemen has become a humanitarian disaster, and the Saudi murder of Khashoggi is an egregious violation of human rights. Through the imposition of sanctions and the suspension of arms sales, this bipartisan legislation puts Saudi Arabian leaders on notice that we do not support how they are conducting the war, nor will we tolerate their outrageous murder of Khashoggi.”

A copy of the Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018 can be found HERE. Key elements of this legislation include:

·         Suspension of weapons sales to Saudi Arabia

·         Prohibition on U.S. refueling of Saudi Coalition Aircraft engaged in the civil war in Yemen

·         Sanctions for persons blocking humanitarian access in Yemen

·         Sanctions for persons supporting the Houthis in Yemen

·         Accountability report for all actors in Yemen in violation of international war or guilty of war crimes and harm to civilians

·         Mandatory sanctions on persons responsible for the death of Jamal Khashoggi

·         Report on human rights in Saudi Arabia