Congressional Resolution of Disapproval on Saudi Arms Sale

On January 14, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of Joint Direct Attack Munitions. The total value of the sale could be as high as $123 million. The notice of the sale to Congress is required by law. Congress has 30 days to pass a joint resolution to stop the deal, but a two-thirds majority is required in both houses in order to override a presidential veto.

As they have consistently promised to do since a package of arms sales to Gulf Cooperation Council countries was first announced in July 2007, several Members of Congress, led by Rep. Anthony Weiner, introduced a join resolution of disapproval of the proposed sale on January 15. Below is the text of the resolution. As of January 16, the bill has 52 co-sponsors in the House.


H.J.RES. 76

110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 76

Disapproving the issuance of a letter of offer with respect to a certain proposed sale of defense articles and defense services to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 15, 2008

Mr. WEINER (for himself, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. BACA, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Ms. CASTOR, Mr. COHEN, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. FERGUSON, Mr. FILNER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. HALL of New York, Mr. HARE, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HOLT, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. KAGEN, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KLEIN of Florida, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. LEE, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. MICHAUD, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NADLER, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. ROTHMAN, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. SCHWARTZ, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. STARK, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. WATERS, Mr. WEXLER, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. WU, and Mrs. TAUSCHER) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs


JOINT RESOLUTION

Disapproving the issuance of a letter of offer with respect to a certain proposed sale of defense articles and defense services to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the issuance of a letter of offer with respect to the proposed sale of defense articles and defense services to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (described in the certifications transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate pursuant to section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act on January 14, 2008 (Transmittal Number 08-18)) is hereby prohibited.