U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
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As Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, Senator Feingold closely monitors the events in Sudan. Since coming to the Senate in 1993, he has spoken out about the violence, the abominable human rights situation, the persistence of slavery, the humanitarian crisis that endangers millions in Sudan, and about the government of Sudan’s record of supporting acts of terrorism. Senator Feingold was the first member of Congress to speak on the floor about Darfur in March 2004.

Calling Attention to Darfur:

June 13, 2007 – Statement on Sudan's Acceptance of a Large Peacekeeping Force in Darfur: "While Sudan’s acceptance of a hybrid African Union – U.N. peacekeeping mission for Darfur could be a step in the right direction, the conditions the Sudanese regime is putting on the expanded mission, such as it must be an all African force, are unacceptable."

May 29, 2007 – Statement on the President's announcement of expanded and tightened sanctions on Sudan: "While I am encouraged by the President’s long overdue announcement that he is expanding and strengthening sanctions on Sudan, unilateral actions are only a first step. A decade of unilateral American sanctions has failed to force the Sudan regime to end the genocide in Darfur."

May 8, 2007
– House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) sent a letter to President Bush yesterday, urging him to deliver a strong message to the Sudanese government that they are expected to follow through on all agreements regarding continued humanitarian access to the more than two million Darfurians who depend on international relief groups for survival.

May 4, 2007
– In a letter to Director of National Intelligence, Michael McConnell, members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence raised concerns about the State Department’s recent characterization of the Sudanese government as a "strong partner in the War on Terror."

March 20 , 2007 – Senator Feingold chaired a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs on Chad, the Central African Republic, and the regional impact of the Darfur Crisis.

September 21, 2006 – Press conference with Senators Brownback, DeWine, Coburn, and Obama on Darfur.

September 19, 2006 – Statement upon the appointment of Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan, Ambassador Andrew Natsios.

September 15, 2006 – While observing the Global Day for Darfur, Feingold urges world leaders to bring an end to the genocide in Darfur.

August 30, 2006 – Received an "A" grade from the nonpartisan Genocide Intervention Network for his work to end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

April 28, 2006 – Called for intervention in Darfur to end the horrific genocide during the National Call for Action in Darfur.

January 10, 2005 – During a fact-finding trip to the region, Feingold met with the Darfur mediation team and toured refugee camps set up for thousands of Sudanese refugees who had fled from Darfur.

September 9, 2004 – While questioning U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Feingold urged the administration to appoint a special envoy to bring high-level focus to the U.S. response to the Darfur crisis.

October 21, 2002 – Assisted in the development of the Sudan Peace Agreement (Public Law 107-245) condemning human rights violations on all sides.


Voting Record:

April 10, 2007 – Cosponsored the Sudan Divestment Authorization Act of 2007, which prohibits the investment of State assets in any company that has a qualifying business relationship with Sudan.

February 8, 2007 - Introduced S. Res. 76, a resolution calling for a comprehensive regional strategy in Africa to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for sustainable peace in eastern Chad, northern Central African Republic, and Darfur, Sudan.

May 2, 2006 – Cosponsored an amendment (S.AMDT.3777) to (H.R.4939) to fund a U.N. Peacekeeping force in Darfur.

March 2, 2006
– Cosponsored Senate Resolution 383, a resolution calling on the President to take immediate steps to help improve the security situation in Darfur.

July 21, 2005
- Cosponsored S.1462, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act to hold accountable those responsible for genocide.

April 18, 2005 – Cosponsored an amendment (S.AMDT.517) to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R.1268) to impose sanctions against perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Darfur.

March 10, 2005
– Cosponsored S.Con.Res. 17, which called for a NATO assessment of the potential effectiveness of and requirements for a NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Darfur.

March 2, 2005
– Cosponsored S.495, which sought to impose sanctions against those responsible for crimes against humanity in Darfur.

July 22, 2004- Cosponsored S.Con.Res. 133, a resolution declaring the atrocities unfolding in Darfur to be genocide.

June 23, 2004 - Cosponsored an amendment to provide $95 million in emergency assistance to Darfur on S. 2400, the 2005 defense authorization bill.

May 6, 2004 - Introduced with colleagues S.Con.Res. 99 condemning the government of the Republic of Sudan’s role in Darfur.

January 25, 2001- Introduced with colleagues S. 180, the Sudan Peace Act, condemning the human rights violations on all sides of the conflict.

Floor Statements:

July 31 , 2007 - The United Nations Security Council is currently considering a resolution expected to authorize a robust peacekeeping mission to protect the innocent people of Darfur. This is of course a welcome, and overdue, effort. By now, there is little disagreement anywhere in the world that the current force of just over 7,000 courageous but under-equipped and beleaguered African Union peacekeepers is not adequately protecting civilians or aid workers.

March 28, 2007 - "Time and time again, history has taught us that preventing a crisis is much less complicated and costly than ending and repairing the damage caused by a humanitarian tragedy. The clumsy and irresolute response to the current crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, however, reveals that we still have not learned this painful lesson.

September 11 , 2006 - "At this critical juncture, the Government of Sudan must fulfill its obligation to relieve the suffering of its citizens by working with the United Nations to agree upon a robust, coordinated force to end the violence in Darfur. It is essential that the international community displays steadfast solidarity in insisting upon the implementation of United Nations Resolution 1706 and provides the troops and resources necessary to follow through on its commitment."

May 10, 2006 - "It is critical that the international community, working with the African Union, the United Nations, and regional partners, develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that the peace agreement is implemented and adhered to by both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Army."

April 6, 2005 - "While last week the United Nations Security Council made some progress on Darfur, much more remains to be done, and I do not believe that the United States has exerted adequate diplomatic and political effort on behalf of the people of Darfur. We ought to be able to do more—to be more forceful, more focused, more innovative, and more persuasive—to stop genocide."

February 2, 2005 - "But the truth is that I have little confidence in the Government of Sudan, and I see no reason to believe that a north-south peace agreement will awaken that government to its responsibility to protect all of its citizens."

July 22, 2004 - "I share the outrage of my colleagues. But I know that the people of Darfur – the malnourished children, the victims of rape, the broken families struggling to survive – these people need more than our outrage. They need our action."

May 6, 2004 - "Crimes against humanity have been and continue to be perpetrated in Darfur, and the criminals responsible for these atrocities—the planners directing this horror at the highest levels—should be brought to justice."

March 30, 2004 - I was the first Senator to speak from the Senate floor about the crisis in Darfur: "Government-supported militias have deliberately targeted civilians, sometimes focusing on unprotected villages with no apparent link to the rebels other than their ethnic profile."

Oversight Letters:

May 4, 2007 - In a letter to Director of National Intelligence, Michael McConnell, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) raised concerns about the State Department’s recent characterization of the Sudanese government as a “strong partner in the War on Terror.” Citing the state-sponsored genocide that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the Darfur region of Sudan, they asked McConnell to clarify the assertion that the Sudanese government has “aggressively pursued terrorist operations directly involving threats to U.S. interests and personnel in Sudan.”

January 16, 2007 – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), lead a bipartisan group of Senators in asking the President to provide information on his Administration’s preparations for more aggressive measures to protect the people of Darfur. In their letter to President Bush, the Senators request specifics of his Administration’s contingency plan, including the anticipated timing for the execution of these actions, the benchmarks that will be used to measure their impact, and the results the administration hopes to obtain.

November 16, 2006 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Richard Lugar highlighting disturbing developments in Darfur and asking for a full committee meeting on this issue.

October 30, 2006 - Senator Feingold signed a letter to Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, urging the State Department to pressure African governments to use the upcoming Sino-African cooperation summit in Beijing to call on China to play a greater role in resolving the situation in Darfur.

September 15, 2006 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to African Union Chairman Denis Sassou-Nguesso expressing thanks for AU efforts and asking the AU to take essential steps to avert further catastrophe.

September 11, 2006 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to President Bush urging decisive action to address the disaster looming in Darfur.

September 11, 2006 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Richard Lugar asking for a full committee meeting to revitalize discussions on the rapid deterioration of conditions in Darfur.

May 12, 2006 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice applauding the peace agreement and urging next steps to advance peace and justice in Darfur.

January 30, 2006 – Senator Feingold sent a letter to President Bush urging the development of options for deploying additional peacekeepers, sustained pressure on the government of Sudan, and adequate funding for the peacekeeping mission.

May 10, 2005 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to President Bush highlighting the need for expeditious review of the world food situation and the need for additional use of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust in Sudan.

October 7, 2005 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to President Bush conveying profound concern for the situation in Darfur.

December 22, 2004 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman requesting the allocation of additional funds and commodities to assist in humanitarian aid for Sudan.

June 20, 2004 - Senator Feingold sent a letter to President Pervez Musharref, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, urging his support for the U.S. draft resolution regarding the crisis in Darfur currently being circulated in the United Nations Security Council.