| WASHINGTON, DC — Demand Progress joins a group of 53 U.S. organizations have sent a letter to Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Mike Lee (R-UT), as a follow up to the Senators’ January 23, 2024 letter to President Biden, urging them to introduce a Yemen War Powers Resolution. A War Powers Resolution would withdraw U.S. participation in hostilities in Yemen. In the letter, these organizations call for Congress’s attention to the unconstitutional, ineffective airstrikes that have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. As reported yesterday by the National Security Daily by Politico, the letter highlights the Biden administration’s lack of congressional authorization for the airstrikes in Yemen and their failure to achieve strategic objectives, as evidenced by ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Officials like Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, have acknowledged the airstrikes’ ineffectiveness in deterring Houthi attacks. On the contrary, the Houthis’ capability to disrupt commercial traffic has become more effective. The airstrikes have only inflicted more suffering on the people of Yemen. In June, there was a 73% jump in US-led strikes in Yemen, with 11 casualties recorded. The US-UK strike rate is surging in Yemen as the Red Sea conflict continues. Congress’s constitutional authority over war and military actions is non-partisan, as recognized by signatory organizations spanning the ideological spectrum. The letter calls on senators to set aside any partisan allegiances in order to defend the Constitution. In response to an unaccountable military campaign, the organizations write that Congress must lead the effort to find a diplomatic solution to spare the region from further lives lost and economic damages. Ideologically diverse signatories to the letter, circulated by the U.S.-based humanitarian advocacy organization Action Corps, include Avaaz, DAWN, Bring Our Troops Home, Common Defense, Defense Priorities Foundation, Just Foreign Policy, the Libertarian Institute, MADRE, Peace Action, United Church of Christ, and the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation. “Five months of ongoing U.S. hostilities in the Red Sea and Yemen without congressional approval flagrantly violate the War Powers Resolution and the Constitution. Regardless of who occupies the White House, it is imperative for members of Congress to ensure transparency, oversight, and accountability of the Executive Branch, particularly when the lives of U.S. service members and civilians are at stake. We strongly urge those in Congress who have consistently championed congressional war powers to introduce a Yemen War Powers Resolution and reassert their constitutional authority.” – Cavan Kharrazian, Senior Policy Advisor at Demand Progress “The majority of Americans do not want the U.S. participating in needless wars. The war in Yemen has caused one of the largest humanitarian crises on the planet – and the president has no authority to continue dropping bombs on the country. With each illegal bombing, peace is delayed, and more children are starved to death. Meanwhile, Congress is abdicating its constitutional duty over war and peace. It’s past time for our U.S. senators to stand up – no matter who the president is – and debate U.S. participation in the war in Yemen. Instead of bombing Yemen, the U.S. should be securing a ceasefire in Gaza and restoring humanitarian aid for people across the Middle East.” – Isaac Evans-Frantz, Action Corps Director “The war on Yemen has persisted for a decade, initiated by a US-supported, Saudi-led coalition and continued with direct US and UK attacks. Despite President Biden’s declarations to de-escalate, his actions have contradicted these statements. The administration should honor the Constitution and cease its unauthorized war on Yemen and its people.” – Dr. Aisha Jumaan, President of Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation “Common Defense believes in a foreign policy that prioritizes diplomacy over destruction, and people over the profits of US weapons manufacturers. The unauthorized airstrikes in Yemen are unconstitutional and counterproductive to a peaceful solution. The members of Common Defense call on Congress to claim its congressional powers to stop the strikes in Yemen, and create a peaceful solution to the violence in the region.” – Oscar Arbulú, Deputy Political Director of Common Defense “For far too long, the people of Yemen have suffered from U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition’s bombardment of Yemen. Now, President Biden has directly launched airstrikes on the country, bypassing the middleman. This is contrary to his inauguration promises to restore peace in Yemen and has shocked the Yemeni people as well as the activists working tirelessly to end illegal military actions by the U.S.” – Neda Saleh, Coordinator of Action Corps & Yemeni-Born Activist “With the Biden administration blatantly engaging in unauthorized war against Yemen, defenders of Congress’s war powers from across the political spectrum cannot stand idly by. Our nation has made important strides in recent years to reassert our founders’ intent about the division of powers over the use of military force, including by passing the first ever War Powers Resolution through Congress to end the US military role in Yemen. The American and Yemeni peoples are once again counting on the longtime War Powers champions in Congress to take action in defense of these constitutional principles. Failing to act could have lasting consequences, as it could be seen as a dangerous green light for unauthorized war by a future administration.” – Erik Sperling, Executive Director, Just Foreign Policy |
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