A nation as great as ours cannot sit idly by while atrocities are taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan.  The Bush Administration and Congress have been at the forefront in calling for an end to the violence in Darfur and demanding accountability.

The United States has also provided significant humanitarian assistance to Darfur over the past several years. In fiscal years 2005-2006, the United States provided $1.524 billion to Sudan and Chad. As of March 2007, the United States has provided an additional $431 million for fiscal year 2007 in humanitarian assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad.

In addition, I voted in favor of H.Con.Res 7 which calls on the League of Arab States to acknowledge the genocide in the region of Sudan and to step up their efforts to stop genocide in Darfur. It urges the League of Arabs to work with the United Nations, the African Union, and the United States Presidential Envoy for Sudan to bring about real and lasting peace and stability in Darfur. This resolution passed the House on April 25, 2007 by a vote of 425-1.

I also signed on to a letter addressed to President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China. It requested that President Jintao use his influence with the government of Sudan to make sure that humanitarian efforts are not blocked, as well as pressure Sudan economically to consent to the complete implementation of the United Nations negotiated Addis Ababa Agreement of November 16, 2006. In response, the Chinese government has committed to sending 275 engineers to Africa to pave the way for 3,000 U.N. peacekeepers who will join the 8,000 African troops already in Darfur.

While the United States cannot always control what goes on in other countries, we should use our influence as the greatest country in the world to promote the fundamental liberties of all people.  Our economic power gives us the ability to wield great influence with other nations, and we should use this power for good.