H.R. 1392 would prohibit the Administration from approving sales of defense articles or transferring such items to the government of Saudi Arabia for a period of 120 days following enactment. That prohibition would be extended for subsequent periods (for a total of three years) unless the President certifies to the Congress that the Saudi government is not violating the human rights of dissidents or detainees. The bill would exempt articles used to defend Saudi Arabia or the U.S. military in that country and also would authorize the President to waive that prohibition in the interest of national security. Finally, the bill would require the Administration to report to the Congress on the repression of critics and dissidents by the Saudi government.
