Senator Boxer Urges Change in Cluster Munitions

August 24, 2007

I am pleased to let you know that I am cosponsoring the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007, S.594, authored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). 

Cluster munitions are devices that contain dozens or hundreds of small explosives.  They are intended for use against military targets, but in too many cases they kill and maim indiscriminately.  These munitions are often dropped from aircraft or fired by rocket launchers over wide geographic areas.  Tragically, many have a significant failure rate, reaching as high as 40 percent.  At that point, they become much like unexploded land mines -- able to kill anyone who comes near.  Often, the victim is a civilian and, too often, a child. 

One example of the unintended damage done by cluster munitions has happened in Laos, where millions of tiny explosives were dropped by United States military aircraft during the Vietnam War.  Now, more than three decades later, they continue to cause both injuries and death in local villages.

While this legislation does not ask the Pentagon to ban the use of cluster munitions, it does place common-sense restrictions on the use of cluster bombs.  It prevents any funds from being spent to use, sell, or transfer cluster munitions that have a failure rate of more than 1 percent.  It also clarifies that cluster munitions will only be used against clearly defined military targets and will not be used where civilians are known to be present or in areas normally inhabited by civilians. 

This legislation is one small step toward limiting the use of a range of weapons that cause senseless suffering and pain. I am pleased to support and cosponsor this important bill and will work for its passage.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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