A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling on President Trump not to veto the recently passed legislation that demands an end to the U.S. military support role in Yemen’s ongoing civil war.
On Thursday, the House Democratic majority, joined by 16 Republicans, defied Mr. Trump and passed the legislation in what backers said was a belated effort to assert Congress’s role in deciding where and when American forces are committed to battle.
Drafted by California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, and signed by Republicans such as Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky Republican and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, the letter requests a meeting with Mr. Trump “to discuss this legislation and the promising opportunities that can emerge from its passage.”
“We believe that by signing this historic legislation to terminate an unconstitutional war that predates your presidency, you will set a new precedent for cooperation with both chambers of Congress to overcome such entrenched opposition to foreign-policy restraint,” the lawmakers wrote.
White House aides have called the resolution “erroneous” and maintained that the president will veto the resolution, which directs the president to remove U.S. forces from “hostilities” in Yemen, other than operations targeting remaining al Qaeda units there.
The United Nations and humanitarian groups say the Yemeni civil war has sparked one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, including a new surge in cholera cases in recent weeks.
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.
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