House Foreign Affairs Committee Authorizes Demining and Weapons Security

On September 18th, the House Foreign Affairs Committee authorized Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) programs, for demining and weapons security, in the Committee-approved State Department Authorization Act.

The language included describes how CWD programs advance U.S. foreign policy goals and save lives, promote food security by allowing land to safely be used for agriculture, facilitate infrastructure and other development, educate local populations on the threat of landmines, advance U.S. business interests, support recovery from conflict, establish partnerships with foreign allies, prevent unplanned stockpile explosions, and prevent weapons from being diverted by terrorist and other armed groups. The text additionally includes language specifically authorizing demining work in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

The Committee's authorization of these CWD programs reaffirms the United States’ historic commitment to demining and weapons stockpile security programs, and will allow HALO and other demining organizations to continue critical demining and weapons security work around the globe. These programs ultimately promote security, stability, and prosperity for the United States and around the world while demonstrating U.S. strength and leadership abroad.

HALO thanks Chairman Brian Mast for his leadership and support of demining programs, as well as Rep. Ami Bera for his championship of this work - the authorizing language included language from Rep. Bera's Conventional Weapons Destruction and Legacy of Senator Patrick Leahy Act. HALO is also grateful to the entire House Foreign Affairs Committee and all who supported these critical programs and their inclusion in the Act.

Read the section on Conventional Weapons Destruction here, and the full bill text here.

(Please note an additional amendment put forth by Rep. Ami Bera, which amends the section on Southeast Asia to also include suvivors assistance programs within Conventional Weapons Destruction, was agreed to by the committee but not yet reflected in the bill text.)