Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09) issued the following statement after introducing H.J. Res. 74, legislation terminating the national emergency related to Yemen declared by President Obama on May 16, 2012 in Executive Order 13611.

“There are currently 41 extended national emergencies that are subject to periodic Congressional review and periodic presidential reporting requirements including the declaration related to Yemen that is more than a decade old.  I have been reviewing these so-called emergencies, and it has become clear that many do not constitute emergencies at all, much less extended emergencies.  In many instances, these declarations are simply pretextual to get involved in a foreign government’s affairs.   This is an abuse of the law. 

The National Emergencies Act mandates Congress consider joint resolutions terminating national emergencies every six months, yet Congress has failed to review the legitimacy of the national emergency related to Yemen since its declaration by President Obama in 2012. 

Heartlessly, the extended national emergency related to Yemen blocks the donations of food, clothing and medicine intended to relieve the human suffering by the people of Yemen.  It is estimated that 130 children die each day because of famine in Yemen, leading to the death of more than 85,000 in the past decade.  Imagine the number of lives of innocent Yemen children that could have been improved or even saved had this emergency declaration been terminated.

It is incomprehensible that a stated “emergency” is used by our country to harm the people of another country, including forcing starvation and disease.

According to the United Nations, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains the worst in the world.   Nearly 80 percent of the people in Yemen need treatment for malnutrition.  20 million lack access to adequate health care.  Meanwhile, because of this national emergency declaration, the United States is unable to provide necessary food shipments and medical supplies that would have an immediate impact on the lives of those living in Yemen.

The situation in Yemen is dire and grows worse every day.  My legislation terminates the national emergency declaration related to Yemen and ends America’s decades-long aiding and abetting a conflict that has killed thousands of innocent lives,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Background:

The National Emergencies Act of 1976 (NEA) provides the President of the United States the authority to declare a national emergency. Under this law, the President can utilize 148 temporary tyrannical powers only meant for times of actual emergency. 

Section 202 of the NEA (50 USC 1622) mandates that Congress must consider a joint resolution to terminate a national emergency no later than six months after it’s declared, and within every six months after that. Under the NEA, resolutions terminating national emergencies are subject to expedited procedures.  In addition to required Congressional review, Biden has failed to provide Congress with periodic national emergency expenditure reports as required by 50 USC 1641(c).

There are currently 41 declared national emergencies still in effect in the United States. 

Click here to read my recently published opinion editorial in the Washington Times that provides additional details regarding the NEA and the need for Congress to debate and vote to terminate all current emergency declarations.