To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate

Make Ban on Cluster Bomb Transfers to Saudi Arabia Permanent

Congress should enact President Obama's ban on transferring cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia into law.

Why is this important?

Foreign Policy magazine has reported that the Obama Administration has suspended US transfers of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia following concerns over civilian harm from their use in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been conducting a military campaign since March 2015. A senior U.S. official acknowledged reports that the Saudi-led coalition used cluster bombs "in areas in which civilians are alleged to have been present or in the vicinity." [1] Under U.S. law, countries that receive cluster bombs from the U.S. must agree that cluster munitions “will only be used against clearly defined military targets and will not be used where civilians are known to be present or in areas normally inhabited by civilians.” [2]

Reps. Conyers (MI), Ellison (MN), Grijalva (AZ), Hank Johnson (GA), McGovern (MA), Lieu (CA), and Barbara Lee (CA) have introduced an amendment [3] to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 5293) which would permanently ban the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. On June 14, House Rules Committee agreed [4] that this amendment will be considered by the full House.

Urge Congress to make the President's ban on transferring cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia permanent by signing our petition.

References:
1. http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/27/exclusive-white-house-blocks-transfer-of-cluster-bombs-to-saudi-arabia/
2. http://www.noclusterbombs.org/news/2016/05/28/transfers-ksa/
3. http://www.rules.house.gov/amendments/CONYER_063_xml613160925552555.pdf
4. https://rules.house.gov/bill/114/hr-5293