On the recordJuly 28, 2021
I thank the gentlewoman from California for the time. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment in order to increase and decrease funds in the State Department to highlight the need for stronger congressional oversight, robust human rights measures, and transparency in U.S. arms sales to countries. The fact of the matter is, despite leaky laws in place, the United States has quietly trained and armed actors who eventually engage in human rights abuses all over the world through a State Department program known as direct commercial sales. This program allows the State Department to sell up to $100 to $300 million in military training, weapons, and services without so much as notifying Congress. It was through this policy that the U.S. provided paramilitary training to Saudi operatives that later went on to kill Jamal Khashoggi, as well as for the sales of arms later used in the abduction and killing of more than 300 Colombians in the May 2021 protests over labor rights. The U.S. must stop arming and funding human rights violators. We must have stronger congressional oversight, robust human rights standards, and transparency in all U.S. arms sales.
