[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7090-S7091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 Yemen

  Madam President, now on a related matter, events from Europe to Asia, 
to the Middle East continue to demonstrate on a daily basis why 
American global strength and leadership are essential for protecting 
our homeland, our core interests, and our allies and partners.
  But, unfortunately, Senator Sanders from Vermont has drafted a 
resolution that would pull America back from global leadership in a 
clumsy and deeply counterprotective way.
  Our colleague has prepared a resolution attempting to further limit 
America's support for the U.N.-recognized Government in Yemen and the 
Saudi-led coalition helping defend it against Iranian-backed Houthi 
terrorists.
  I welcome debate about American policy toward Iran, and that is what 
this resolution is really about--not Yemen, but Tehran.
  There is no question about Tehran's role in the fighting in Yemen 
from the very beginning. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is 
intimately involved.

[[Page S7091]]

  Less than 1 month ago, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard stopped a wooden 
sailing vessel heading from Iran to Yemen and found 70--70--tons of 
missile fuel component that Iran was trying to sneak to the terrorist 
rebels--this, on top of countless small arms, UAVs, and rockets that 
Iran has provided to support Houthi terror.
  Iran has long seen the fight in Yemen as a way to expand its 
influence and tighten its grip on regional power. There is little 
question that an Iran-backed Houthi victory over the U.N.-recognized 
Government of Yemen would be bad news for American interests in the 
region and the interests of our close partners.
  Iran and their Houthi partners want a platform to launch 
indiscriminate terrorist attacks against civilian cities in Saudi 
Arabia and the UAE and against ships belonging to Israel and other 
internationally flagged vessels.
  The Iranians will continue to use Yemen as a testing site for the 
same kinds of weapons that Iran has long used to target and kill 
American forces in Iraq and Syria--the same kinds of weapons Iran is 
now also providing to Russia to rain death and destruction on Ukraine.
  This is just about the worst imaginable time the U.S. Congress could 
go out of our way to alleviate the pressure that Tehran and its Houthi 
proxies are feeling.
  A fragile cease-fire in Yemen is on the line. Why send a signal that 
we are backing away from our partners? Why emboldened the Houthis at 
this juncture?
  Just as the Iranian people themselves are fed up and have been 
fighting back against their country's oppressive regime, Senator 
Sanders wants to cut Tehran a huge break?
  If the United States inflicts this kind of self-inflicted wound on 
our Middle East strategy; Iran will celebrate; Russia will pop 
champagne; China will enjoy more oxygen to expand its own creeping 
regional influence as well; and America's allies and partners will be 
left questioning our resolve, our partnership, and wondering if it 
wouldn't be a safer bet to turn toward Beijing instead.
  Yemen is also home to the wing of al-Qaida that poses the greatest 
threat to the United States. Don't take my word for it. President 
Biden's Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, has publicly 
warned about the threat from AQAP in Yemen.
  We rely on the U.N.-recognized Government in Yemen, as well as key 
partners in the region like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to keep pressure 
on al-Qaida on multiple fronts.
  Do we really want to send a signal to partners on whom we can rely 
that they cannot rely on us?
  I have been critical of the Biden administration's mistakes in the 
Middle East and its passivity in the face of Iranian aggression, but 
even this administration strongly--strongly--opposes Senator Sanders' 
resolution.
  The Senate has enough crucial business to tackle this week without 
going out of our way to make life better--better--for our enemies and 
harder for our partners.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.