[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 136 (Wednesday, November 24, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN SUDAN ACT OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 19, 2004

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2781, the 
Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act of 2004.
  There can be no mistake that the situation in Darfur constitutes a 
massive humanitarian disaster. There is indisputable evidence from 
Members of Congress, international observers and non-governmental 
organizations that thousands of people have been killed, countless 
numbers of women and girls have been raped, and hundreds of thousands 
of people have been displaced. Lives remain in danger as water and food 
is scarce and the potential of a cholera outbreak is very real. It is 
imperative that the United States and the international community 
become more actively engaged in this issue--we should not allow the 
human suffering to continue a day longer.
  The Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act is a significant measure 
designed to aid the suffering in Darfur while holding the perpetrators 
of these atrocities responsible for their actions. The Comprehensive 
Peace in Sudan Act authorizes hundreds of millions of dollars for 
humanitarian development and refugee assistance. At the same time, this 
legislation blocks the U.S. assets of complicit senior officials of the 
Sudanese government and seeks to prevent the travel of Sudanese 
government officials to the U.S. until demonstrated human rights 
protections are in place.
  The provisions in the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act are necessary 
steps toward ending the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, but they are far 
from sufficient. The U.S. and the international community must maintain 
pressure on the Sudanese government to end the violence immediately and 
unconditionally.
  I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and the 
international community to end the genocide in Darfur and bring peace 
and stability to the Sudanese people.

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