[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 164 (Thursday, November 5, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11221-S11222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 341--SUPPORTING PEACE, SECURITY, AND INNOCENT 
                CIVILIANS AFFECTED BY CONFLICT IN YEMEN

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

                              S. Res. 341

       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,

[[Page S11222]]

     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.

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I would like to draw attention to a 
dangerous situation that has implications for the national security of 
the U.S. and our allies, a situation involving dire humanitarian 
circumstances, with over 150,000 displaced persons since 2004. I am 
speaking about the situation in Yemen.
  Senator Lugar and I are introducing a resolution supporting peace, 
security, and the innocent civilians affected by conflict in Yemen. 
This resolution calls on the President and international community to 
use all appropriate measures to prevent Yemen from becoming a failed 
state.
  The gravity of the challenges Yemen faces should not be ignored. To 
document a few of these challenges: Yemen is home to 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. 
Yemen has limited and rapidly depleting natural resources including 
oil, which accounts for over 75 percent of government revenue, and 
water. Yemen is underdeveloped, ranking 140th out of 182 countries in 
the United Nations Development Program's 2009 Human Development Index. 
Thousands of Yemenis are currently displaced as a result of the ongoing 
conflict between the Government of Yemen and al-Houthi rebel forces. 
Regions of Yemen have a large degree of lawlessness; religious 
minorities--particularly the Jewish population--have emigrated due to 
safety concerns; and human rights violations persist.
  The U.S., the international community, and the people of Yemen must 
do all that we can to prevent Yemen from becoming a failed state. 
Disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al-Qaeda and violent extremism 
requires a global strategy that includes preventing Yemen from serving 
as a base for terrorist operations conducted elsewhere. Americans and 
our allies are all too familiar with the dangers of terrorists 
operating unimpeded. The March 18 and September 17, 2008, attacks on 
the U.S. Embassy in Sana'a and the October 12, 2000 attack on the 
U.S.S. Cole remind us of this threat specifically in Yemen.
  Aside from Yemen's impact on the national security of America and our 
allies, we cannot ignore the tremendous hardships many in Yemen 
currently endure. Yemenis deserve to have basic security, basic human 
rights, and their basic needs met. We need to stand with those who want 
to live in peace and achieve improved living conditions. I am 
especially concerned with the plight of those displaced by conflict in 
Yemen, and I applaud efforts taken by the Obama administration and 
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist these displaced 
persons. I urge the Government of Yemen and rebel forces to 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 internally displaced persons in Yemen.
  I would like to thank the senior Senator from Indiana, who is the 
Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for 
cosponsoring this resolution on this important issue.

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