[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 341 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 341

Supporting peace, security, and innocent civilians affected by conflict 
                               in Yemen.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 5, 2009

    Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Lugar) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting peace, security, and innocent civilians affected by conflict 
                               in Yemen.

Whereas the people and Government of Yemen currently face tremendous security 
        challenges, including the presence of a substantial number of al Qaeda 
        militants, a rebellion in the northern part of the country, unrest in 
        southern regions, and piracy in the Gulf of Aden;
Whereas these security challenges are compounded by a lack of governance 
        throughout portions of the country;
Whereas this lack of governance creates a de facto safe haven for al Qaeda and 
        militant forces in regions of Yemen;
Whereas Yemen also faces significant development challenges, reflected in its 
        ranking of 140 out of 182 countries in the United Nations Development 
        Program's 2009 Human Development Index;
Whereas Yemen is also confronted with limited and rapidly depleting natural 
        resources, including oil, which accounts for over 75 percent of 
        government revenue, and water, \1/3\ of which goes to the cultivation of 
        qat, a narcotic to which a vast number of Yemenis are addicted;
Whereas government subsidies are contributing to the depletion of Yemen's scarce 
        resources;
Whereas the people of Yemen suffer from a lack of certain government services, 
        including a robust education and skills training system;
Whereas the Department of State's 2009 International Religious Freedom Report 
        notes that nearly all of the once-sizeable Jewish population in Yemen 
        has emigrated, and, based on fears for the Jewish community's safety in 
        the country, the United States Government has initiated a special 
        process to refer Yemeni Jews for refugee resettlement in the United 
        States;
Whereas women in Yemen have faced entrenched discrimination, obstacles in 
        accessing basic education, and gender-based violence in their homes, 
        communities, and workplaces while little is done to enforce or bolster 
        the equality of women;
Whereas these challenges pose a threat not only to the Republic of Yemen, but to 
        the region and to the national security of the United States;
Whereas, to the extent that Yemen serves as a base for terrorist operations and 
        recruitment, these threats must be given sufficient consideration in the 
        global strategy of the United States to combat terrorism;
Whereas this threat has materialized in the past, including the March 18 and 
        September 17, 2008, attacks on the United States Embassy in Sana'a and 
        the October 12, 2000, attack on the U.S.S. Cole while it was anchored in 
        the Port of Aden, as well as numerous other terrorist attacks;
Whereas the population of Yemen has suffered greatly from conflict and 
        underdevelopment in Yemen;
Whereas up to 150,000 civilians have fled their homes in northern Yemen since 
        2004 in response to conflict between Government of Yemen forces and al-
        Houthi rebel forces; and
Whereas the people and Government of the United States support peace in Yemen 
        and improved security, economic development, and basic human rights for 
        the people of Yemen: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the innocent civilians in Yemen, especially 
        displaced persons, who have suffered from instability, 
        terrorist operations, and chronic underdevelopment in Yemen;
            (2) recognizes the serious threat instability and terrorism 
        in Yemen pose to the security of the United States, the region, 
        and the population in Yemen;
            (3) calls on the President to give sufficient weight to the 
        situation in Yemen in efforts to prevent terrorist attacks on 
        the United States, United States allies, and Yemeni civilians;
            (4) calls on the President to promote economic and 
        political reforms necessary to advance economic development and 
        good governance in Yemen;
            (5) applauds steps that have been taken by the President 
        and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist 
        displaced persons in Yemen;
            (6) urges the Government of Yemen and rebel forces to 
        immediately halt hostilities, allow medical and humanitarian 
        aid to reach civilians displaced by conflict, and create an 
        environment that will enable a return to normal life for those 
        displaced by the conflict; and
            (7) calls on the President and international community to 
        use all appropriate measures to assist the people of Yemen to 
        prevent Yemen from becoming a failed state.
                                 <all>