[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 400 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 400

 Urging the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to address the 
                         instability in Yemen.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 28, 2010

Mr. Kerry (for himself, Mr. Feingold, and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Urging the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to address the 
                         instability in Yemen.

Whereas al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist groups operating in the Republic of Yemen 
        are a threat to the national security of the United States;
Whereas, on October 12, 2000, an explosives-laden motorboat detonated alongside 
        the United States Navy destroyer USS Cole while it was docked in the 
        Yemeni port of Aden, killing 17 members of the United States armed 
        forces and wounding 39 others in the deadliest terrorist attack against 
        the United States military since the 1983 attack on United States Marine 
        barracks in Beirut, Lebanon;
Whereas, on September 17, 2008, after several previous failed attacks, Yemeni 
        militants attacked the entrance of the United States Embassy in Sana'a, 
        Yemen, killing 17 people, including a United States citizen;
Whereas al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the 
        alleged attempt by a Nigerian national, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, to 
        detonate explosives on board Northwest Airlines flight 253 bound for 
        Detroit, Michigan, on Christmas Day 2009;
Whereas members of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have used Yemeni territory 
        as a base from which to launch attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi 
        Arabia, including an August 2009 assassination attempt that injured 
        Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Prince Mohammed bin Nayef 
        bin Abdul Aziz al Saud;
Whereas the Government of Yemen, since December 17, 2009, has undertaken a 
        number of military operations against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula 
        leadership;
Whereas stability in Yemen is threatened by rapid population growth, endemic 
        poverty, the inadequate provision of basic services, widespread 
        corruption, and natural resource shortages stemming from extreme water 
        scarcity and dwindling oil production;
Whereas a tribal insurgency in northern Yemen being waged by al-Houthi fighters 
        and a southern secessionist movement threaten the stability of Yemen;
Whereas hundreds of thousands of Somalis and Ethiopians are seeking asylum in 
        Yemen to escape civil war, political grievances, and poverty;
Whereas these refugees create significant additional pressures on Yemen's 
        limited resources and government institutions;
Whereas the February 2009 Department of State report on Human Rights in Yemen 
        found that ``significant human rights problems persisted,'' including 
        ``reports of arbitrary and unlawful killings by government forces, 
        politically motivated disappearances, and torture in many prisons'';
Whereas, on January 21, 2010, Secretary of State Clinton remarked, ``The success 
        of [United States Government assistance to Yemen] depends upon Yemen's 
        ability to make the tough choices necessary to improve the capacity to 
        govern, to reform its economy, to protect human rights, to combat 
        corruption, and create a better environment for business and 
        investment.'';
Whereas the weakening of government institutions in Yemen could contribute to 
        the ability of al Qaeda-inspired and affiliated militants to recruit, 
        train, and plan terrorist operations against United States targets in 
        the Middle East and in the United States;
Whereas potential large-scale population displacement and migration from Yemen 
        due to civil conflict, economic collapse, or resource failure could 
        jeopardize the stability and security of the region;
Whereas al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al Qaeda in East Africa, and al-
        Shabab militants could take advantage of instability in Somalia and 
        Yemen to expand their reach and effectiveness;
Whereas the United States recognizes the importance of cooperating with Yemen to 
        counter the al Qaeda threat, promote economic development, and preserve 
        Yemen's stability as it seeks to expand good governance;
Whereas in September 2009, USAID and Yemen signed a 3-year economic assistance 
        agreement to fund development projects in the fields of health, 
        education, democracy and governance, agriculture and economic 
        development;
Whereas President Obama has significantly increased United States military and 
        economic assistance to Yemen, including--

    (1) $66,800,000 in fiscal year 2009 to build the capacity of the Yemeni 
military to conduct counterterrorist operations; and

    (2) $52,500,000 in fiscal year 2010 for economic assistance 
administered by the Department of State;

Whereas Yemen aspires to join the Gulf Cooperation Council, some of whose 
        members pledged more than $4,000,000,000 to support Yemen's economic 
        development at a November 2006 international donors conference in 
        London; and
Whereas the challenges of Yemeni stability are not just a concern for the United 
        States and Yemen, but are also a concern for countries in the region and 
        for the entire international community:
Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms its commitment to helping prevent state 
        collapse in Yemen, denying terrorists a safe-haven, and 
        supporting the people and Government of Yemen in dealing with 
        Yemen's profound and interlocking security, development, and 
        economic challenges;
            (2) reaffirms its commitment to disrupting, dismantling, 
        and defeating al Qaeda and affiliated movements worldwide;
            (3) urges the Government of Yemen to strengthen and sustain 
        efforts against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula;
            (4) calls upon the Government of Yemen to strengthen 
        efforts to address corruption, to respect human rights, and to 
        work with its citizens and the international community to 
        address the significant factors driving the instability in 
        Yemen;
            (5) calls upon the international community to closely 
        coordinate and strengthen assistance programs in Yemen;
            (6) recognizes the critical role of Saudi Arabia and other 
        members of the Gulf Cooperation Council in these assistance 
        programs;
            (7) urges intensive dialogue toward ceasing armed 
        hostilities through a negotiated political settlement between 
        the Government of Yemen and the Houthi rebellion;
            (8) requests that the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 
        Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence submit a 
        joint, comprehensive strategy for Yemen, in classified and 
        unclassified form, to the Senate, including--
                    (A) counterterrorism cooperation;
                    (B) development, humanitarian, and security 
                assistance;
                    (C) regional and international diplomatic 
                coordination; and
                    (D) democracy, human rights, and governance 
                promotion; and
            (9) urges the President to work with the people and 
        Government of Yemen, the international community, and the 
        international organizations to implement the strategy submitted 
        pursuant to paragraph (8).
                                 <all>