[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 579 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 579

 Honoring the life of Manute Bol and expressing the condolences of the 
                         Senate on his passing.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 13, 2010

 Mr. Brownback (for himself and Mr. Lieberman) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the life of Manute Bol and expressing the condolences of the 
                         Senate on his passing.

Whereas Manute Bol was born the son of a Dinka tribal chief in Sudan, and was 
        given the name ``Manute'', which means ``special blessing'';
Whereas Manute Bol traveled to the United States in 1983 and played college 
        basketball at the University of Bridgeport during the 1984-1985 season;
Whereas Manute Bol began his National Basketball Assocation (NBA) career with 
        the Washington Bullets in 1985, setting the rookie shot-blocking record;
Whereas Manute Bol played in the NBA for 10 years, setting numerous shot-
        blocking records;
Whereas, after beginning his career in the NBA, Manute Bol used his fame and 
        fortune to raise funding and awareness for the people of Sudan;
Whereas Manute Bol was admitted to the United States as a religious refugee and 
        lost over 250 members of his extended family to a civil war rife with 
        religious tensions, but nevertheless spent his life working for 
        reconciliation between Christians and Muslims in Sudan;
Whereas Manute Bol's last project to foster reconciliation was to build 41 
        schools for Christians and Muslims to learn and live together in the 
        spirit of reconciliation;
Whereas Manute Bol constantly put himself in danger to bring peace and stability 
        to Sudan, including by flying into war zones and visiting refugee camps 
        that were targeted for aerial attack;
Whereas, on Manute Bol's last humanitarian visit to Sudan, the President of 
        Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, requested that Manute Bol extend his visit 
        to make appearances at Sudan's national election and use his influence 
        to counter corruption, which ultimately led to the deterioration of his 
        health and his sudden death;
Whereas Manute Bol advocated for human rights in Sudan by appearing before 
        Congress and lobbying Members of Congress, thus positively influencing 
        United States foreign policy on Sudan;
Whereas, after Manute Bol retired, he resided in West Hartford, Connecticut, and 
        Olathe, Kansas;
Whereas Manute Bol died at the age of 47 on June 19, 2010; and
Whereas Manute Bol's perseverance in his advocacy for Sudan affected the lives 
        of thousands, and possibly millions, of people in Sudan: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses profound sorrow at the death of Manute Bol;
            (2) conveys its condolences to the family, friends, and 
        colleagues of Manute Bol;
            (3) expresses gratitude to Manute Bol for his passion and 
        determination in raising awareness of human rights abuses, and 
        his dedication to bringing peace to Sudan; and
            (4) encourages the National Collegiate Athletic Association 
        (NCAA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) to pursue 
        exhibition games with a Sudanese basketball team to increase 
        awareness of the political and humanitarian situation in Sudan, 
        with proceeds from these games donated toward the construction 
        of reconciliation schools in Sudan, as proposed by Manute Bol.
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