[pjw] UPDATE: "Reply" from Blumenauer on Yemen letter...

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hey IAG supporters
FYI two people affiliated with national peace organizing efforts have 
passed the Iraq Affinity Group's email about Yemen to their 
colleagues, so that's encouraging. The day we sent out the letter to all 
seven Oregon federal representatives, we received automated replies from 
Senators Wyden and Merkley, and Reps. Bonamici and Schrader. Today we 
received what I would say is a generic response from Rep. Blumenauer. I 
say this because the issue is framed as being about Saudi Arabia's 
blockade and says he supports ending the US' involvement in the war-- but 
not suspending drone strikes and other US warfare. I guess that's 
better than him ignoring the US' complicity. I've pasted the reply
below.

If you send in your own letters let us know if you have any more luck 
getting the US' now 16-year-long war in Yemen addressed.
dan h
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

---------------

Earl Blumenauer
Third District, Oregon

Committee on Ways and Means


House of Representatives Seal
Congress of the United States // House of Representatives // Washington, 
DC
20515
Washington Office:
1111 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4811


District Office:
911 NE 11th Ave
Suite 200
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 231-2300

website: blumenauer.house.gov
January 30, 2018
PO Box 42456
Portland, OR 97242-0456

Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting me about Saudi Arabia's blocking of humanitarian 
aid to Yemen. I share in your deep concerns on this issue - Yemeni 
civilians are facing the largest famine the world has seen in decades. 
Meanwhile, the blockade has sparked a huge cholera outbreak with over 
900,000 cases detected in less than a year. This must end now.

I've added my voice to the growing number of Members of Congress and
administration officials who are calling on Saudi Arabia to end this
blockade once and for all and allow unimpeded access of water, food, fuel,
and other supplies into Yemen. I am also particularly concerned with the
U.S. support of the Saudi-armed intervention in Yemen. I am a cosponsor of
H.Con.Res.81, a resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed
Forces from hostilities in Yemen, except those engaged in operations
directed at Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

It's past time for the U.S. to recalibrate the way we allocate taxpayer
dollars abroad. What I do not support, and have long fought to change, is
our practice of prioritizing weapons sales to autocratic regimes over
programs that empower and strengthen the poor or marginalized within these
countries.

I sincerely appreciate your advocacy and hope you will stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Congressman Earl Blumenauer
Earl Blumenauer
Member of Congress

-------

Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2018 
From: Peace and Justice Works <pjw at pjw.info>

To Oregon's Congressional delegation: Representatives Earl Blumenauer, 
Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and Greg Walden and 
Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden:

We are writing to urge you to put an end to the US war in Yemen and 
support for the Saudi-led war there.

In December, all five members of Oregon's House delegation voted to 
support H. Res. 599, calling for a political solution and pointing out 
that there is no Authorization for Use of Military Force in Yemen. That 
Resolution passed 366-30.

In June, both Senators voted on S. Res. 42, which called to stop the sale 
of arms to Saudi Arabia which allow it to continue conducting the war. 
Unfortunately, that Resolution failed 47-53.

You are all aware that the war in Yemen has brought about one of the 
worst humanitarian crises on the planet. Our group watched for many years 
as Iraq suffered a similar fate under sanctions and bombs-- in that case, 
launched by a coalition led by our own country.

Jennifer Newstead, a nominee for legal advisor to the State Department, 
admitted that US law prohibits American assistance to countries which 
block the flow of humanitarian aid (Foreign Policy, December 19). Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of State Tim Lenderking said there is no military 
solution to the war in Yemen, calling instead for "aggressive diplomacy" 
(Al Jazeera, December 22).

Since our entire delegation has already shown its support for the people 
of Yemen, Peace and Justice Works calls upon all seven of you to take the 
following steps:

1) Make this matter a focus of any public appearances, especially media 
appearances.

2) Take steps to strengthen the resolutions by creating or supporting 
legislation (such as H. Res. 81) that would stop:
a) the flow of arms to Saudi Arabia,
b) the use of American aircraft to help refuel Saudi planes,
and
c) the use of US drones and ground troops (confirmed by NBC on December 
20), which only add more fuel to the flames of conflict in Yemen.

3) Ensure humanitarian aid is supported financially and can find its way 
to the Yemeni people.

We look forward to your prompt responses.

Dan Handelman, Wayne Haythorn and other members of
Peace and Justice Works