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Since February of 2003, Arab "Janjaweed" militias, armed by the Sudanese government, have led a genocidal campaign against the ethnic African population in Darfur.  More than 200,000 innocent civilians have been murdered and an estimated two and a half million have been displaced. 

Those displaced persons are now facing starvation and dehydration that is just as deadly as the frequent Janjaweed raids on the camps.  Congressman Meehan is appalled by the genocide that is taking place in Darfur and is actively pursuing a solution to this crisis.  

Recently, Congressman Meehan sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging its members to protect funding for Darfur in H.R. 4939, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery of 2006. This emergency supplemental bill has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate and is currently being reconciled by a conference committee. It is vital that the bill retain the funding necessary to help provide the people of Darfur with some of their most basic needs, including food, housing, and security.  

In addition, Congressman Meehan believes that it is essential for the United States and the international community to confront the Sudanese government in order to put an end to the genocide taking place in Darfur.  This humanitarian crisis can end only when the Sudanese government takes credible steps toward disarming the militias responsible for these atrocities.  The Congressman has actively pursued a solution to this issue from the outset and declared his support for the people of Darfur in a statement on the floor of the House of Representatives in September of 2004 (click here to see the text of that statement).  He is also a co-sponsor five major pieces of legislation during the 109th Congress. 

• The Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006 (H.R. 3127) --   This bill imposes sanctions on Sudan and freezes the U.S. assets of its leaders.  This bill passed the House on April 5th and was referred to the Senate.

• The Darfur Genocide Accountability Act of 2005 (H.R. 1424) -- This is a stronger bill which includes many of the provisions of H.R. 3127 and authorizes the President to use "all necessary means" to end the genocide in Darfur. 

• H. Res. 723 -- This resolution calls on the President to take immediate steps to improve the security situation in Darfur and Sudan with a specific emphasis on civilian protection.  It calls for the African Union, United Nations, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to work closely to end end violence until a United Nations peacekeeping force is fully deployed in Darfur.  

• H. Res. 992 -- This resolution urges the President to appoint a Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan.  The resolution was introduced on September 7, 2006, and was referred to the Committee on International Relations.

• The Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2006 (H.R. 6140) -- This bill, introduced on September 21, 2006, requires the identification of companies that conduct business operations in Sudan and prohibits Federal Government contracts with such companies.  Upon introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committees on Financial Services and Government Reform.