WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined a push by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) toamend the National Security Act of 2024 and require the State Department to review the use of U.S. weapons over the past year in conflicts around the world, including by Israel in Gaza, and to ensure that any use of U.S. weapons is in accordance with U.S. policy and international law. The amendment was introduced with Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). 

Specifically, the amendment would provide $10 million for the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), in coordination with the State’s Political Military-Affairs office, to implement its new Civilian Harm Incident Response Guidance (CHIRG) to investigate and monitor if U.S. weapons contribute to excessive civilian harm. It also requires the State Department to publish its CHIRG guidance and annually report all civilian harm events considered in the preceding year.  

“The military aid the U.S. provides to Israel and other countries must be used in accordance with international law.  A military campaign that causes catastrophic damage to civilian infrastructure and disproportionate loss of civilian life is inconsistent with international law, and with U.S. national interests. This long-overdue, common-sense amendment provides the funds necessary to monitor and report on how U.S. weapons and munitions are used, and can help save innocent lives,” said Senator Welch. 

“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s and his right-wing government’s bombing campaign has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians,” said Senator Warren. “It is the responsibility of the U.S. to ensure our aid is used in compliance with international law and advances long-term peace, including reducing harm to civilians and prohibiting aid to any country that restricts humanitarian assistance.” 

“The U.S. has a responsibility to ensure that any taxpayer-funded military assistance we provide our allies is used in a manner consistent with our values and international law. This amendment provides the State Department with the resources it needs to conduct crucial oversight into how U.S.-origin weapons are used,” said Senator Kaine. 

“This critical amendment will strengthen efforts to hold all U.S. partners who receive American security assistance to the same standard – including in times of conflict,” said Senator Merkley. 

“The U.S. must provide the necessary resources to track any reports of U.S. weapons being used to cause civilian harm. This amendment will enhance the U.S. government’s capacity to do just that, and to further ensure that U.S. assistance is used in line with our values,” said Senator Van Hollen. 

This amendment complements Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s amendment requiring that the use of U.S. supplemental aid complies with U.S. and international law, which President Biden adopted last week in the form of a National Security Memorandum (NSM) on nations receiving U.S. foreign military aid, building on longstanding human rights Leahy Law. 

Read the full text of the amendment here. 

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