[Peace] Sept 30-Oct 8: target for Senate 502B vote on cluster bombs in Ukraine?

[Robert Naiman]

CODEPINK says there are Global Days of Action for a ceasefire in Ukraine,
Sept. 30-Oct. 8th.

This might be an ideal target for a Senate vote on a 502B resolution on
cluster bombs in Ukraine.

Introduction of a privileged 502B resolution in the Senate starts a clock.
If Senators wanted to have a vote between Sept. 30-Oct. 8th, a good target
for the introduction of a bill might be September 21, the UN International
Day of Peace.

A 502B resolution is a blank canvas. Senators introducing the bill can
write whatever they agree to write on the blank canvas. This is an
advantage of a 502B resolution over a privileged resolution under the War
Powers Resolution or the Arms Export Control Act, where there is a
structure Senators have to follow. A 502B resolution is a set of questions
the Administration has to answer within 30 days of the passage of the bill.
Senators can put any question in the 502B resolution that Senators want
answered. They can put questions about cluster bombs, they can put
questions about "ceasefire." They can put questions about the Saudi use of
U.S. cluster bombs in Yemen between March 2015 and June 2016, when the
Sullivan-Blinken gang who signed the Yemen mea culpa letter were in charge,
just as they are now. Look at the Saudi-Yemen 502B resolution that Senators
Murphy, Lee, and Durbin introduced in March. There's a question there about
the Saudi government protecting Saudi nationals from U.S. justice for
crimes committed in the United States. What does that have to do with
"human rights in Saudi Arabia?" Doesn't matter. Senators can address
whatever they want in a 502B resolution. The only constraint is that the
provisions have to be framed as questions for the Administration.

Furthermore, once there is a floor debate and vote scheduled in the Senate,
it's like Lysistrata and her comrades #occupying the Acropolis. Senators
can say anything they want during the Window of Attention and Media Focus
created by the floor debate and vote, regardless of what the text of the
bill is. This Free Speech activity is specifically protected by the
Constitution's Speech and Debate clause. Look at the floor debate on the
Sanders-Lee-Murphy Yemen War Powers Resolution in March 2018. Some Senators
talked about women imprisoned and tortured in Saudi Arabia for the "crime"
of Driving While Female. What did that have to do with the war in Yemen?
Doesn't matter. They're Senators. They can say whatever the hell they want
during the floor debate. And they can say whatever they want to the media
during the Window of Attention and Media Focus created by the floor debate
and vote.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Marcy Winograd
Date: Wed, Aug 2, 2023 at 7:40 AM
Subject: [CODEPINKCONGRESS] Pls host a ceasefire in Ukraine event during
our Global Days of Action (Sept. 30-Oct. 8th)

Dear CODEPINK Congress:

The International Summit for Peace in Ukraine, held in Vienna earlier this
summer, is asking
people to host a ceasefire event during the Global Days of Action, Sept.
30-Oct. 8th. Examples
of actions can include: street vigils, bannering, tabling, marches or
walks, teach-ins, etc.

Please fill out this form for the Global Days of Action
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJsnyKrwDCYN4oTnCngYYI_UB1cqobZjBWRA38Ocp1a_fujQ/viewform>(Sept.
30-Oct. 8th) if you would like to list an
event to promote a ceasefire and diplomacy to end the Russia-Ukraine War.

 We can then post the event on the Peace in Ukraine Coalition
<http://peaceinukraine.org>website and encourage people to attend your
event.

 See my example below--and thanks for considering this!!!  Peace, Marcy
Winograd

Santa Barbara, CA

Central Coast AntiWar Coalition
Tabling & Petitioning for a Ceasefire in Ukraine
Thursday, October 5th, 6-8 PM
Corner of Anacapa & State Street, downtown Santa Barbara
(park in the lot behind State)
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