Darfur

The violence in the impoverished Darfur region of Sudan has resulted in ceaseless attacks on unarmed civilians and defenseless refugees in villages by Sudanese ground and air forces. The Sudanese government and militias it supports have engaged in despicable acts of rape, child abduction and the destruction of food and water resources, and have also obstructed efforts by the international community to distribute basic humanitarian aid to the people of the Darfur region. I strongly agree with the official position of the U.S. government that these actions amount to no less than genocide and crimes against humanity.

I am a proud cosponsor of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006, which became Public Law 109-344 on October 13, 2006. This key piece of legislation strengthens existing economic and diplomatic sanctions against the Sudanese regime and offers NATO assistance to peacekeepers from the African Union Mission in Sudan. Additionally, I have cosigned a letter to Secretary Rice requesting the appointment of a Special Envoy for Sudan to facilitate the distribution of aid and expedite diplomatic pressure on Khartoum. Today, I am a cosponsor of H.R.180, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007, calling for divestment from companies which do business in Sudan.

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I believe that the government of the Republic of the Sudan must be held responsible for the inhumane barbarism against the people of Darfur and that the international community must redouble its efforts to end the ongoing violence there.

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