US Senate votes to stop Saudi arms sales

WASHINGTON, June 20 (KUNA) -- The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed measures to block President Trump from using his emergency authority to complete several arms sales benefiting Saudi Arabia, but fell short of the support needed to overcome a veto.
Trump has cited rising tensions with Iran as justification for using his emergency powers to complete the deals.
A bipartisan group of senators had initially filed 22 resolutions of disapproval against the sales; one for every contract the administration had expedited by emergency order, effectively sidestepping congressional opposition. The first two of those resolutions passed 53 to 45.
Once the Senate completes its votes, the resolutions will go to the House of Representatives, where Democratic leaders have been waiting to see whether the Senate would have any difficulty passing the resolutions before taking their own steps to block Trump's actions. (end) rsr.hm