Lawmakers push to prevent civilian harm in US military operations

Two newly introduced US bills aim to increase transparency at the Pentagon and reduce civilian harm in conflict. Washington, DC – Progressive United States lawmakers have put forward legislation to prevent civilian harm during US military operations and increase transparency around such incidents, stressing that the death of innocent people should not be inevitable in war. Members of the House of Representatives and Senate on Thursday introduced the two bills, dubbed the Department of Defense Civilian Harm Transparency Act and the Protection of Civilians in Military Operations Act. “We cannot continue to accept the deaths of innocent civilians as an unavoidable cost of war – the Department of Defense has a moral responsibility to prevent civilian harm from its military operations and investigate if civilians are harmed,” Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is leading the legislative effort, said in a statement. “By improving reporting and investigating civilian harm of our own military operations, and those of our allies, these two bills increase transparency to help prevent needless loss of life.” Senator Bernie Sanders is also backing the legislation, while on the House side, co-sponsors include Ro Khanna, Jason Crow, Sara Jacobs and Tom Malinowski – all Democrats.