Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Sudan Peace Act (H.R. 2052). I would like to thank Congressman TANCREDO for introducing this important legislation and Representatives DONALD PAYNE, TOM LANTOS, and FRANK WOLF for their active roles in pushing Sudan to the top of the foreign policy agenda. It is important for Members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, to speak out in a collective voice against the suffering of the people of Sudan.
Sudan's civil war and the Sudanese Government's genocidal policies have taken a terrible toll on the civilians of that country. The horror that afflicts Sudan is staggering: over 2 million people have been killed and another 5 million driven from their homes. The situation in Sudan is rapidly getting worse and must be seriously addressed before the scale of death and destruction increases. Clearly, there must be international pressure to promote a just and lasting peace to this tragic conflict.
Sudan has one of the worst human rights records in the world. According to the U.S. State Department, the Government of Sudan continues to abuse human rights including the bombing of civilian and humanitarian targets, abduction and enslavement by government-sponsored militias, and manipulation of humanitarian assistance as a weapon of war.
The Sudan Peace Act offers the beginning of a framework for a solution to ending the crisis. The bill requires all businesses trading securities in the United States capital markets and operations in Sudan to disclose fully the extent and nature of their operations, particularly oil operations, which are fueling the constant attacks against the southern Sudanese. The legislation also strongly condemns the human rights abuses committed by the Government of Sudan, continues support for humanitarian assistance distribution through Operation Lifeline Sudan, and urges the President to use $10 million appropriated last year to assist the Sudanese opposition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
I am encouraged by the Bush administration's recent statements that it will soon appoint a high-profile Special Envoy to Sudan to serve as a catalyst in the stalled peace talks. The appointment of an envoy could be the difference in bringing peace to Sudan.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bipartisan legislation to help end the campaign of violence against the people of Sudan.