Mennonite
Central
Committee

Failed US Senate amendment to restrict the sale of cluster munitions

September 5, 2006

On September 5, 2006, Senator Feinstein submitted an amendment to a Department of Defense appropriations bill that would restrict the sale or transfer of cluster munitions. The amendment reads as follows:

Sec. 8109. No funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act my be obligated or expended to acquire, utilize, sell, or transfer any cluster munition unless the rules of engagement applicable to the cluster munition ensure that the cluster munition will not be used in or near any concentrated population of civilians, whether permanent or temporary, including inhabited parts of cities or villages, camps or columns of refugees or evacuees, or camps or groups of nomads. (Congressional Record, September 5, 2006, Page: S8948)

The amendment failed in a Senate vote of 30-70.