Today, Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Mark Pocan (WI-02), leaders of H. Con Res. 138 in the House, released the following statement in response to the announcement that the U.S. will be halting the refueling of Saudi-coalition aircraft in Yemen:

“Ending U.S. refueling of Saudi-led coalition aircraft is an encouraging step towards ending U.S. involvement in the Yemen civil conflict. The Yemeni people are facing the world’s gravest humanitarian crisis. The U.S. should be squarely focused on alleviating this crisis and doing everything we can to encourage an end to the civil conflict that has exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation. Picking sides and supporting the Saudi-coalition is contrary to those goals. In addition to ending refueling efforts, the United States should pause sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. The announcement to end refueling comes on the heels of provisions included in the NDAA signed into law in August calling out U.S. refueling of Saudi-coalition aircraft, showing that oversight from Congress has an impact on pushing this administration to end U.S. involvement. Congress should send a clear message that the U.S. should not be engaged in the Yemeni civil conflict by passing H. Con. Res 138 during the lame duck.”