Africa has been a top priority of mine since I proudly took office in 1993. I have taken an active interest in issues ranging from South Africa's post-apartheid development to the crises in Liberia and Sudan. I have consistently focused on the most pressing of Africa's problems, including HIV/AIDS, refugees and displaced persons, and the various civil and regional armed conflicts.

My active interest in Africa has led me to help launch a number of Africa assistance projects, including the "Good Humanitarian Donorship” initiative, in an effort to focus on forgotten and neglected emergencies. I am working to make sure that the same international community, which pledged $13 billion to rebuild Iraq will show the same kind of commitment to help people caught up in 21 often forgotten crises and conflicts throughout Africa.

To accomplish this, Africa needs the assistance and cooperation of the United States. No part of the world is in greater need of our help, and none has greater potential to reward our efforts if we apply them in a prudent and judicious manner.

The instability in Sudan and the brutal genocide in Darfur must come to an end. As a member of the Congressional Sudan Caucus, I am committed to bring about peace in the region. I introduced a resolution that commends the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing an arrest warrant of President al-Bashir. Among other things, the resolution expresses the need for a comprehensive approach to ending genocide and human rights violations in Darfur. The resolution also calls for international cooperation to facilitate positive social, economic, and political developments in Darfur and the rest of the country.

In the past, I have co-sponsored legislation that calls on the League of Arab States and each Member State individually to acknowledge the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan and to expedite their efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur. I have also co-sponsored legislation that calls on the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to condemn the atrocities taking place in Darfur and end military and economic assistance to the government of Sudan until it stops civilian attacks and engages in peace negotiations.

I am happy to have Southern Sudan as a member of the international community. I encourage Sudan and Southern Sudan to resolve separation issues and the future of the Abyei region, and urge the Governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan to abide by the principles of peace, democracy, and human rights.