“Two significant actions that aim to stop the killing in Darfur and offer a ray of hope for that brutalized region occurred within a few hours of each other yesterday (July 31).

“I applaud the vote by the United Nations Security Council to authorize a force of 26,000 peacekeepers who will partner with the smaller African Union force already in place, by December 31.

“I am encouraged that the Sudanese government, which bears primary responsibility for the tragedy in Darfur, has stated its support for the UN peacekeepers. We must make sure this promise is more than lip service. So I am pleased to be the cosponsor of the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, approved overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives yesterday, which would apply real economic pressure to the Sudanese government to keep its word.

“For too long the world has offered pity and little else to end the genocide. The deployment of the UN force, as well as supportive action in the U.S. Congress, are major steps toward backing up words with deeds.”