WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Jan
Schakowsky (D-IL), a Chief Deputy Democratic Whip, today expressed strong
support for three bills to address the grave humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
Rep. Schakowsky’s full statement is below:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R.
3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, H. Res. 723, which calls
on President Bush to take immediate steps to help improve the security situation
in Darfur, and H. Res. 992, which urges the President to appoint a Presidential
Special Envoy for Sudan. I am proud to be a cosponsor of all three bills.
Congress must act now to address
what I believe to be the most disastrous humanitarian situation on the planet.
We must make it an immediate priority – not just a legislative priority but a
priority of conscience - to protect the lives of the men, women, and children
who are suffering every day in Darfur, and in refugee camps just over the
Sudanese border in Chad.
The situation in Darfur has
become exceedingly dire. In direct violation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA)
and numerous UN Security Council resolutions, the Sudanese government has begun
to deploy some 26,000 troops to the Darfur region. This has coincided with a
sharp increase in attacks on civilians and humanitarian aid workers, renewed
aerial bombardment, and the all but complete deterioration of the fragile DPA.
The Congress must use every tool at our disposal to end the horror that
continues in Darfur.
The American people want us to act. From coast to
coast, we have seen massive demonstrations on behalf of peace in Darfur.
American Jewish groups, faith groups of all denominations, the Save Darfur
Coalition and others are far beyond this Congress in their awareness and
attention to this critical situation. We must honor their hard work by passing
H.R. 3127, H. Res. 723, and H. Res. 992 today.
I was one of several members of
Congress who worked to have the situation in Darfur officially classified a
‘genocide’ by the United States Congress. I visited Darfur and I have seen the
situation with my own eyes. I carry my experience in Darfur with me every day.
The people of Darfur have
suffered for far too long. After each genocide of the last century, Rwanda
being the most recent, we vowed “never again.” Yet, we have become witness to
another genocide. The time to act is now.
I encourage all of my colleagues
to support H.R. 3127, H. Res. 723, and H. Res. 992. Thank you Mr. Speaker." |