US Lawmaker Drafts Bill To Ensure Congress Controls Foreign Arms Sales

Legislation that would give Congress the final word on weapons sales, including to Persian Gulf allies, is being drafted in an attempt to prevent President Donald Trump from selling military equipment abroad without lawmakers' approval, including to allies in the Persian Gulf, US Congressmen Eliot Engel said in a press release on Friday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th May, 2019) Legislation that would give Congress the final word on weapons sales, including to Persian Gulf allies, is being drafted in an attempt to prevent President Donald Trump from selling military equipment abroad without lawmakers' approval, including to allies in the Persian Gulf, US Congressmen Eliot Engel said in a press release on Friday.

"In the coming weeks, I'll offer this measure [legislation] to ensure that Congress plays its rightful role ensuring that arms sales are prudent and consistent with US law and protection of civilians," Engel, chairman of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said. "The Foreign Affairs Committee will expect answers soon from those responsible for this decision.

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The Trump administration plans to complete a new weapons sale to Saudi Arabia by declaring the transaction a national emergency, according to published reports.

Congress has placed a hold on the pending weapons sale amid concerns over a humanitarian catastrophe arising from Saudi-led coalition military operations in Yemen as well as the Saudi assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Trump recently vetoed a bill that that would have imposed an outright ban on weapons sales to the Saudi-led coalition. The measure passed the Senate with support from Republican lawmakers.