Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Statement on Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Amendment on Cluster Munitions
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) released a statement on not being able to vote for Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14)’s amendment banning the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine only.
Last night, Republicans on the House Rules Committee opposed Congresswoman Jacobs’ bipartisan amendment that would have banned the transfer of cluster munitions to all countries, instead opting to pass Congresswoman Greene’s narrow, politically-motivated amendment. Congresswoman Greene has long been vocal about cutting off all aid to Ukraine.
Congresswoman Jacobs opposes the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine but continues to support aid for Ukraine in addition to banning the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions to all countries and for the United States to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Watch Congresswoman Sara Jacobs’ Floor Speech Here
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said:
“Cluster munitions maim and kill indiscriminately, and often fail to explode on impact, leaving communities littered with dangerous unexploded landmines for years if not decades. Cleaning them up is expensive and dangerous and takes a long time. And despite claims about the dud rates, we know that when actually used in war, these weapons are unpredictable and kill more civilians than anticipated.
“That’s why I’m opposed to sending cluster munitions to Ukraine. But unlike some of my Republican colleagues, I am a strong supporter of Ukraine. My bipartisan amendment would have banned the transfer of all cluster munitions to any country. And my amendment would have garnered strong support across both parties.
“But it’s clear this amendment is not about cluster munitions at all – it’s about opposing any support to Ukraine. We shouldn’t be transferring cluster munitions at all, and the U.S. should join 123 other countries in banning this weapon once and for all and protecting civilians and the children that are maimed and killed by these horrific weapons.”
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