2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Blocking Financial Assistance To Saudi
Arabia And The UAE For The Purposes Of Conducting Hostilities In
Yemen. In July 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against an amendment to the
House FY 2020 NDAA that would, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"prohibit the use of funds authorized by the bill to provide any
assistance to Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates if such
assistance could be used by either country to conduct or continue
hostilities in Yemen." The vote was on adoption. The House adopted the
amendment by a vote of 239-187. [House Vote 448,
7/11/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/11/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.522;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.2500]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Ending The Declared National Emergency
From May 16, 2012, Which Imposed Sanctions Due To The Conflict In
Yemen. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick
voted against a resolution that would "terminate the national emergency
declared by the president on May 16, 2012, with respect to sanctions due
to the conflict in Yemen." The vote was on passage. The House rejected
the resolution by a vote of 27 to 393. [House Vote 335,
7/18/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/18/23;
Congressional Actions, H.J. Res.
74]
Republicans And Democrats Warned That Terminating The Declared
Emergencies Would Unfreeze Assets Of Militia Leaders And War
Criminals While Also Rejecting Compensation To American Victims Of
Terrorism. According to Reuters, "The House overwhelmingly
rejected the resolutions in a series of votes, after mainstream
Republicans and Democrats warned that ending the emergencies would
unfreeze the assets of militia leaders, arms dealers and accused war
criminals, while denying compensation to U.S. victims of terrorism."
[Reuters,
7/18/23]
The Far-Right Republicans Who Sponsored The Resolutions Argued The
Emergency Declarations Were Old And Were Examples Of The "Deep
State." According to Reuters, "The hardliners said the emergency
declarations, dating back to the presidencies of Republican
George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, were out-of-date and had
become examples of the 'deep state,' former President Donald
Trump's conspiratorial term for Washington officials who opposed
his will." [Reuters,
7/18/23]
The Resolutions Sought To Terminate 5 Presidential Emergency
Declarations That Have Permitted Sanctions Against U.S. Enemies In
The Middle East And Africa, Including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya And
The Congo. According to Reuters, "The Republican-controlled U.S.
House of Representatives on Tuesday turned back a bid by hardline
conservatives to end five presidential emergency declarations that
allow for sanctions against America's enemies in the Middle East
and Africa. Four Republican Representatives - Lauren Boebert, Matt
Gaetz, Paul Gosar and Eli Crane - used separate measures known as
privileged resolutions to require votes on whether to end
longstanding emergency declarations involving Syria, Yemen, Iraq,
Libya and Democratic Republic of Congo." [Reuters,
7/18/23]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against A Resolution That Would Require The
Removal Of Most U.S. Troops In Or Impacting Yemen. In April 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted against a resolution that would have, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "direct[ed] the president, within 30 days of
enactment, to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or affecting
the Republic of Yemen, including in-flight refueling of non-U.S.
aircraft, unless a declaration of war or specific authorization for such
use of forces has been enacted. The bill specifies that its provisions
would not apply to U.S. forces engaged in operations directed at
al-Qaeda or associated forces. The measure would also require two
reports regarding risks to U.S. and Saudi citizens as well as the risk
of humanitarian crisis, and an assessment of the potential increased
risk of terrorist attacks." The vote was on passage. The House passed
the resolution by a vote of 247 to 175. The legislation was later vetoed
by President Trump, which the Senate later failed to overturn. [House
Vote 153, 4/4/19;
Congressional Quarterly, 2/13/19;
Congressional Actions, S. J. Res.
7]
The Resolution Would Have Ended All Military Operations In Yemen
Unrelated To Counterterrorism Actions Against Al-Qaida. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "The resolution would have directed the
Defense Department to cease all operations in Yemen unrelated to
counterterrorism actions against al-Qaida, including the aerial
refueling of Saudi coalition jets. The Pentagon voluntarily
suspended its refueling of planes last fall, but the resolution
would have made it permanent." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/2/19]
Congress Considered Several Bills That Sought To Signal To Saudi
Arabia Over Their Actions In Yemen And Other Human Rights
Violations. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Lawmakers have
other bills in both chambers that seek to send a signal to Saudi
Arabia over its conduct in Yemen and other human rights abuses
through provisions that would impose sanctions on Saudi Arabian
officials who are preventing humanitarian aid from reaching Yemenis
and prohibiting offensive weapon sales to the kingdom."
[Congressional Quarterly,
5/2/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against A Resolution That Would Require The
Removal Of Most U.S. Troops In Or Impacting Yemen. In February 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted against a resolution that would have, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "direct[ed] the president, within 30 days of
enactment, to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or affecting
the Republic of Yemen, including in-flight refueling of non-U.S.
aircraft, unless a declaration of war or specific authorization for such
use of forces has been enacted. The bill specifies that its provisions
would not apply to U.S. forces engaged in operations directed at
al-Qaeda or associated forces. The measure would also require two
reports regarding risks to U.S. and Saudi citizens as well as the risk
of humanitarian crisis, and an assessment of the potential increased
risk of terrorist attacks." The vote was on passage. The House passed
the resolution by a vote of 248 to 177. [House Vote 83,
2/13/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/13/19; Congressional
Actions, H. J. Res.
37]