6 Bills in Congress Reflecting the Strained U.S.-Saudi Relationship After Khashoggi's Murder

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have long enjoyed a generally positive relationship but recently the alliance has been increasingly strained ― as evidenced by President Donald Trump’s veto of a resolution withdrawing U.S. support for a Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels in the Yemen Civil War. Here’s a look at six other bills in Congress now that address the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

Requiring the intelligence community to report on Jamal Khashoggi’s murder (S. 544) The murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi diplomatic post in Turkey by a group apparently led by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman prompted worldwide outrage. This bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) would require the Director of National Intelligence to provide Congress with an unclassified report about Khashoggi’s murder that identifies the people who were complicit or responsible for his death.

Prohibiting arms sales to Saudi Arabia (H.R. 643)

The U.S. has a substantial defense partnership with Saudi Arabia, and some have suggested cutting off arms sales in response to Saudi conduct regarding the war in Yemen and Khashoggi’s murder. Rep. Jim McGovern’s (D-MA) bill would immediately halt arms sales and other military aid to the Saudi Arabian government.

Saudi Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 2019 (H.R. 1471)

Another area in which lawmakers have suggested curtailing U.S. support for Saudi Arabia is in terms of nuclear technology. Rep. Brad Sherman’s (D-CA) bill would require Congress to approve any potential formal nuclear trade deal with Saudi Arabia, and express that no such deal should be transacted until Saudi Arabia is transparent about the death of Jamal Khashoggi and commits to nuclear nonproliferation activities.

Preserving American Justice Act (S. 230) & ESCAPE of Saudi Nationals Act (S. 231)

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. don’t have an extradition treaty, and after two Saudi nationals studying in Oregon fled the country before standing trial for felonies (charges were related to a fatal hit-and-run and an alleged rape) the state’s senators offered two bills in response. Sen. Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) Preserving American Justice Act would impose a tax on governments and sovereign wealth funds that help their citizens escape justice in the U.S., while the ESCAPE of Saudi Nationals Act would direct the State Dept. to probe the students’ escape and impose travel sanctions on those involved in helping them.

Saudi Educational Transparency and Reform Act (S. 357)

Saudi Arabia’s government has taken steps in recent years to reform parts of its educational curriculum that incited ‘jihad and violence against infidels’, called for homosexuals and women who have affairs to be stoned to death, and stated that ‘Muslims who convert to another religion should be killed’. Following Khashoggi’s murder, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced this bill to ensure that Saudi Arabia fulfills its commitments to remove intolerant and hateful content from its schoolbooks.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / MicroStockHub)