Senators make bipartisan push to block $650M weapons sale to Saudis | TheHill – The Hill

Three senators on Thursday made a bipartisan push aimed at blocking a proposed $650 million weapons sale to Saudi Arabia.

Sens. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulSenators make bipartisan push to block 0M weapons sale to Saudis YouTube temporarily suspends Ron Johnson's channel over COVID-19 misinformation Fauci blasts Paul for saying he is responsible for COVID pandemic MORE (R-Ky.),Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeSenators make bipartisan push to block 0M weapons sale to Saudis On The Money Biden caps off infrastructure week Senate Republicans call on colleagues to reject government spending bills without border wall funding MORE (R-Utah) and Bernie SandersBernie SandersSenators make bipartisan push to block 0M weapons sale to Saudis Popping the progressive bubble Defund Biden: The only way to put America on a budget MORE (I-Vt.) introduced a joint resolutiondisapproving of the proposed arms sale to the Middle Eastern country, pointingtoits role in Yemens civil war.

The joint resolution seeks to block the sale of items and services including 280 air-to-air missiles, 596 LAU-128 Missile Rail Launchers, containers, support equipment, spare and repair parts and logistical support services.

A message needs to be sent to Saudi Arabia that we dont approve of their war with Yemen, Paul said in a statement. By participating in this sale, we would not only be rewarding reprehensible behavior, but also exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in Yemen. I urge Congress and the Biden Administration to consider the possible consequences of this sale that could accelerate an arms race in the Middle East and jeopardize the security of our military technologies.

As the Saudi government continues to wage its devastating war in Yemen and repress its own people, we should not be rewarding them with more arms sales, Sanders said in a statement.

Last week, Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarSenators make bipartisan push to block 0M weapons sale to Saudis McCarthy pledges to restore Greene, Gosar to committees if GOP wins House Boebert faces heavy criticism after Gosar floor speech MORE (D-Minn.) introduced her own joint resolutionaimed at blocking the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing the same reasoning.

It is simply unconscionable to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia while they continue to slaughter innocent people and starve millions in Yemen, kill and torture dissidents, and support modern-day slavery, Omar said in a statement.

The State Department approved this $650 million weapons sale, the first major arms deal made with Saudi Arabia during Biden's presidency, earlier this month.

While President BidenJoe BidenHouse Democrats push vote on social spending plan to Friday Fauci says all adults should 'go get boosted' Senate confirms Park Service director after years of acting heads MOREcut off U.S. support for Saudi-led operations in Yemen's civil war, he has been criticized by Democratsandactivists for not doing more to punish civil rights abuses in the kingdom, including the 2018 killing of U.S.-based Saudi journalistJamal Khashoggi.

The Hill has reached out to the White House and the U.S. Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., for comment.

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Senators make bipartisan push to block $650M weapons sale to Saudis | TheHill - The Hill