Susan visits with refugees at the Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Uganda.
On the Issues
Foreign Affairs
***Recent Congressional Action***
Susan Davis urges President Bush to use his trip to the Middle East to push for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Joining 52 of her colleagues, Representative Davis also tells President Bush that he must show more leadership in ending rocket attacks into Israel and improving humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. Click here to read the letter.
Israel’s 60th Anniversary- The House passed H.Con.Res. 322 in support of Israel ’s 60th Anniversary. Susan was proud to support this import milestone. Click here to read her statement and views on Israel ’s future.
JUBILEE Act- Susan joined her colleagues in support of debt relief for the world’s poorest nations. Click here for Susan’s statement.
Congressional Action on Tibet- Representative Susan Davis Calls on China to End Crackdown in Tibet , urges dialogue with Dalai Lama. Click here to read Susan’s statement.
Foreign Aid – Recognizing that America ’s security and prosperity is linked with the prosperity and security of other nations Susan calls for a foreign aid budget that allows our nation to invest in the tools that are needed to address the international challenges of the 21st century. A larger foreign affairs budget will also allow the Department of Defense to focus on their core mission and not providing the type of foreign assistance historically managed by other agencies.
View letter (pdf)
Nutrition and Education Programs - Susan urges greater funding for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program for Fiscal Year 2009. With more than 300 million children suffering from chronic hunger and over 120 million of them not attending school, the McGovern-Dole program has played role in increasing commitments from local communities to school feeding and universal education.
View Letter (pdf)
Susan on the Issues
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
In the mid-1960s, Congresswoman Davis had the rare opportunity to live on a kibbutz in Israel and has returned to the region several times since. While many obstacles to peace still exist, it is Susan’s sincere hope that the future holds peace. You can count on her to continue pushing all parties in the region to set incremental goals that are achievable and to work to realize and then sustain them. In addition, Susan will advocate for the assistance and the support needed to return leaders in the Middle East back to negotiations.
Susan continues to believe that strong U.S. leadership and support is the best hope for bringing about a political process that can eventually pave the way for security and peace for the region. In fact, Susan introduced H. Res. 143, a resolution which urges President Bush to appoint a special envoy for the Middle East, because she does not believe that the United States has devoted enough diplomatic resources to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in recent years. This issue is too important for the United States to not be fully engaged.
Click here to read Susan’s floor statement in support of honoring Israel on her 60th Anniversary.
Congresswoman Davis believes that preemptive warfare with Iran , without clear proof of an imminent threat, would be the wrong action given the current international environment. As many are aware, the United States has been working with allies on the United Nations Security Council to peacefully engage the Iranians on the issue of nuclear enrichment. While Iran has to date failed to meet the Council’s requirements to avoid sanctions, the very fact that the international community and Iran are engaged in the diplomatic arena and not on the battlefield is encouraging. Susan remains hopeful that Iran will abide by the terms set forth by the Security Council and that the issue of nuclear enrichment can be solved without military action.
The 110th Congress has been very active on this issue. Susan is a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 14 and H.J. Res. 64 , resolutions introduced by Rep. Walter Jones and Rep. Neil Abercrombie. H.J. 14 states that absent an imminent threat to the United States or our interests, the President must receive authorization from Congress prior to initiating any use of military force against Iran . H.J. Res. 64 states that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for use of military force against Iraq .
Susan is also a cosponsor of H.R. 1400, the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 and voted in favor of H.R. 2347, which would allow state and local governments to divest in companies with significant investments in Iran ’s oil sector. Additionally, Susan has voted in favor of a number of important pieces of legislation aimed at reducing Tehran ’s threat to the Middle East and to the United States .
- Susan Davis: President's Rush Toward Military Conflict with Iran Highlights His Inability to Find Real Solutions
- Press release on H.J.Res. 64
Darfur
Susan is working hard to prevent further atrocities in Darfur and help the region recover from years of strife. Susan was proud to be a cosponsor of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (S. 2271) which bars federal contracts with companies that do business with the Sudanese government. It also authorizes states to do the same and to divest assets from the country. S. 2271 was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives and is now awaiting the signature of President Bush.
The U.S. has been the largest contributor of humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur , having provided over $1 billion. In June of 2007, Davis voted for the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764) to provide another $949 million for humanitarian assistance in Darfur .
She also voted for H.R. 3127 – Darfur Peace and Accountability Act which directs the President to block the property and assets of civil and military officials of the Government of Sudan and their family members implicated in the Darfur atrocities. It also authorizes the President to use force to stop the Darfur genocide, including establishment of a no-fly zone and use of unmanned armed planes.
Susan has also been active on a number of other actions taken during the 110th Congress. She voted for H. Res. 723 which urges the President to take steps to improve the security situation in Darfur , including by proposing that NATO implement an interim civilian protection force.
Susan also supported aid to Sudan (HR 5522) – Congresswoman Davis supported an amendment to increase funding for Sudan relief efforts by $50 million.
- REP. SUSAN DAVIS CALLS ON CHINA TO PRESSURE SUDAN TO STOP GENOCIDE
- Rep. Susan Davis Acts to Halt Genocide in Sudan
- Letter to the President of China on Sudan (2.5mb pdf)
China
It is little news to anyone that China is on the rise. With a population of over 1.3 billion people and the second largest economy in the world when measured by domestic purchasing power parity, China is poised to become a world power, economically, diplomatically, and militarily. In recent years, Susan has traveled to China to better understand the opportunities and challenges that have resulted from China ’s development.
As a member of the U.S.-China Working Group in the House of Representatives, Susan has been actively engaged on U.S.-China issues that impact San Diegans. In fact, Susan recently introduced H.R. 3275 the U.S.-China Language Engagement Act which would make grant funding available to local school agencies for Chinese language instruction. Improved language training will ensure that our country remains competitive well into the 21st century.
As a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Susan is very concerned about human rights in China . Whether allegations of abuse against Falun Gong members, or China ’s economic relationship with the government in Sudan , Susan believes Congress should continue to exert pressure on China to reform their human rights practices.