Washington, D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Chair Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), CPC Chair Emeritus Mark Pocan, (WI-02), CPC Peace & Security Task Force Chair Barbara Lee (CA-13), and CPC Deputy Whip Ro Khanna (CA-17) released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization:
“The Trump Administration’s reckless decision to designate the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and Foreign Terrorist Organization only further imperils hope for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen and exacerbates the world’s worst humanitarian crisis for the millions of Yemenis on the brink of starvation.
“An estimated 24 million people – nearly 80 percent of the population – are in dire need of food and medicine. The people of Yemen cannot afford another obstacle to receiving the assistance they need. That is why the Congressional Progressive Caucus has consistently supported an end to unconstitutional U.S. participation in the Saudi-led coalition’s brutal war, spearheading the first-ever War Powers Resolution to pass the House and Senate in 2019. The imminent end of Trump’s lawless administration opens the possibility for robust engagement with the UN-brokered peace talks to diplomatically resolve the crisis.
“We call on the incoming Biden Administration to reverse both designations and remove all obstacles that prevent the Yemeni people from accessing food, medicine, fuel and other necessary goods and services. We are committed to reasserting Congress’s rightful constitutional authority over war and peace, and look forward to working with the Administration to secure the immediate end to all military and political support for the Saudi-led coalition, a major increase in humanitarian aid to prevent a full-blown famine, and full support for the UN-brokered peace negotiations led by UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to finally end to this crisis.”
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