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S. 398: Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2019

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S. 398: Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-02-07 · International Affairs · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 167.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-02-07 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 167. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2019

Plain summary

Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2019 This bill suspends certain weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia. It also imposes sanctions on individuals for various activities related to the civil war in Yemen and for involvement in the death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The United States may not authorize transfers to Saudi Arabia of missiles, ammunition, ground vehicles, aircraft, or other weapons that fall within Categories III, IV, VII, or VIII of the U.S. Munitions List. The prohibitions do not apply to ground-based missile defense systems and shall expire September 30, 2020. The United States may not provide in-flight refueling for Saudi coalition aircraft involved in the civil war. (A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting against Ansar Allah, a group in armed conflict with the government of Yemen.) The United States shall impose sanctions on individuals who are blocking the flow of humanitarian goods and services into Yemen or working to undermine the country's stability. This includes sanctions on supporters of Ansar Allah if the United States determines the group has not made meaningful efforts towards peace. The bill also imposes sanctions on foreign individuals, including any members of the Saudi royal family, who are responsible for or who aided in Khashoggi's death. The President shall impose import restrictions on cultural property unlawfully removed from Yemen on or after March 15, 2015.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · 6 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 398, Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2019 (2019-09-19)

Cosponsors on this site

Todd Young (R-IN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Christopher Murphy (D-CT)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-s398 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116