S. 594: Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007
This bill has been described as "effectively" banning cluster bombs, though it is a compromise that's short of a 100% ban. It would limit the use, sale, and transfer of cluster bombs. One limitation is to presumptively bar cluster bombs with a failure rate of over 1%. One loophole is to allow the President to declare exceptions under certain circumstances.
You be the judge. If this is approved, we can start posting other co-sponsors of this bill and the house counterpart.
A bill to limit the use, sale, and transfer of cluster munitions. Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D-CA] Cosponsors [as of 2008-05-04] Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D-NM] Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-CA] Sen. Sherrod Brown [D-OH] Sen. Maria Cantwell [D-WA] Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D-MD] Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA] Sen. Russell Feingold [D-WI] Sen. Thomas Harkin [D-IA] Sen. Tim Johnson [D-SD] Sen. Edward Kennedy [D-MA] Sen. John Kerry [D-MA] Sen. Patrick Leahy [D-VT] Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D-MD] Sen. Bernard Sanders [I-VT] Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-ME] Sen. Debbie Ann Stabenow [D-MI] Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI] Sen. Ron Wyden [D-OR]
A bill to limit the use, sale, and transfer of cluster munitions.
Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D-CA] Cosponsors [as of 2008-05-04] Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D-NM] Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-CA] Sen. Sherrod Brown [D-OH] Sen. Maria Cantwell [D-WA] Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D-MD] Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA] Sen. Russell Feingold [D-WI] Sen. Thomas Harkin [D-IA] Sen. Tim Johnson [D-SD] Sen. Edward Kennedy [D-MA] Sen. John Kerry [D-MA] Sen. Patrick Leahy [D-VT] Sen. Barbara Mikulski [D-MD] Sen. Bernard Sanders [I-VT] Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-ME] Sen. Debbie Ann Stabenow [D-MI] Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI] Sen. Ron Wyden [D-OR]
Here's Leahy's description:
The Feinstein-Leahy bill does not prohibit the use or export of cluster munitions. Rather, it would set a standard for reliability that is the same as what the Pentagon now requires for new procurements of these weapons. The President may waive this requirement if he certifies that doing so is vital to protect the security of the United States, and he submits a report describing the steps that will be taken to protect civilians and the failure rate of the cluster munitions to be used or sold.
The Feinstein-Leahy bill does not prohibit the use or export of cluster munitions. Rather, it would set a standard for reliability that is the same as what the Pentagon now requires for new procurements of these weapons.
The President may waive this requirement if he certifies that doing so is vital to protect the security of the United States, and he submits a report describing the steps that will be taken to protect civilians and the failure rate of the cluster munitions to be used or sold.