Cosponsors Bipartisan Joint
Resolution of Disapproval
On January 16
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley cosponsored a bipartisan joint resolution in
Congress that seeks to block the sale of $20 billion in advanced U.S. weaponry
to the
Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia. Berkley has joined with more than 50 Members of Congress in
the effort, which is being spearheaded by U.S. Representatives Anthony Weiner
(D-NY) and Robert Wexler (D-FL).
"President Bush should not
be seeking to curry favor with Saudi Arabia by selling them $20 billion worth of
high tech weapons. The Saudis are among the world's biggest exporters of
terrorism and they continue to bankroll terrorist organizations that are
targeting America and our allies. Saudi Arabia has never recognized the right
of Israel to exist as a nation and has done nothing to promote peace in the
Middle East. Providing the Saudis with access to these arms only rewards their
support of global terrorism and raises the risk that these weapons will fall
into the hands of dangerous extremists," said Berkley.
Under existing law,
Congress may reject any large arms sale according to the Arms Control Export Act
of 1976. The law requires the President to officially notify Congress of an
impending arms deal and provides Congress 30 days to consider any proposed
sale.
The Joint Resolution of
Disapproval has been used in the past by Congress to affect weapons sales to
Saudi Arabia, including the purchase of F-15 fighter jets, AWACS and other
advanced military systems.
Last year Berkley
coauthored a letter to President Bush, signed by more than 100 Members of
Congress, condemning the decision to sell arms to Saudi Arabia. In part, the
letter read:
"Saudi Arabia has not
behaved like an ally of the United States. They have exported fighters and
suicide bombers to the war in Iraq. They have provided funding for terrorist
activities throughout the world. And the Saudis have refused to play a
constructive role in the West Bank and Gaza.
The United States should
not send potentially destabilizing weapons to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
