Rep. Yoho Does Not Support Partisan Yemen Resolution

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL), lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, voted against a flawed resolution – H.J.Res. 37 - removing non-existent U.S. Armed Forces from Yemen. Congressman Yoho gave the following statement:

“First and foremost, I could not support this resolution for the simple fact that U.S. forces are not engaged in hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

“The Foreign Affairs Committee has a proud tradition of bipartisanship which has been thrown out the window today. This partisan resolution was rushed to the floor and distorts the definition of “hostilities” to cover non-U.S. military operations by third countries. It then reinterprets U.S. activities “in support of” those countries as U.S. engagement in those hostilities; this is false. 

“Since I came to Congress, I have been opposed to the misuse of the War Powers Act and the misapplication of the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for the use of Military Force (AUMF). While I wholeheartedly believe that any U.S. forces put into combat roles must be approved by Congress, I cannot stand by as those firm beliefs in the Constitution are twisted around to make a political messaging bill—which H.J. Res 37 is.

“This resolution, as worded, supports the Iran regime and their Houthi rebels. I cannot support H.J.Res 37, but I am sure the Mullahs in Tehran would.”