Bill Passes with Language Delaying Funding of U.N. Arms Trade Treaty

On Tuesday, June 24, 2014, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee passed the State Foreign Operations bill, containing language prohibiting funds to be used for the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty prior to a full ratification of the treaty by the U.S. Senate. Specifically, section 7061 states: "None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be obligated or expended to implement the Arms Trade Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification for the Treaty."

Last September, the U.N. adopted the ATT and President Obama directed Secretary of State John Kerry to sign it.  The treaty does not exclude civilian arms from its scope and therefore potentially threatens civilian gun ownership in the United States..

NRA-ILA is working to ensure that the Senate does not ratify the ATT.  Last October, a bipartisan group of 50 members of the U.S. Senate and 181 members of the U.S. House sent a clear message to President Obama, Secretary Kerry and the United Nations that the treaty will not be ratified.

The appropriations bill will now head to the U.S. House floor for consideration.

We will continue to keep you updated as the process moves forward.