[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 162 (Friday, December 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13788-S13789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. 
        DeWine):
  S. 2125. A bill to promote relief, security, and democracy in the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo; to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations.
  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today, on behalf of Senator 
Brownback, Senator Durbin, and Senator DeWine to introduce the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy 
Promotion Act.
  As we try to conclude our business for the year here in the Senate, 
we are in the midst of sharp debates on a large number of issues. In 
the foreign policy arena alone, the Administration and Congress are 
consumed with nurturing a political process and defeating insurgents in 
Iraq, attempting to halt proliferation by Iran and North Korea, and 
trying to end the bloodshed in Darfur, Sudan.
  But there is another country embroiled in conflict that has not yet 
received the high-level attention or resources it needs. It's the 
Democratic Republic of Congo, and right now it is in the midst of a 
humanitarian catastrophe.
  An International Rescue Committee report from 2004 found that 31,000 
people were dying in the Congo each month and 3.8 million--3.8 
million--people had died in the previous 6 years. This means that this 
conflict, which still smolders and burns in some regions, has cost more 
lives than any other conflict since World War II.
  Beyond the humanitarian catastrophe, resolving the problems in the 
Congo will be critical if Africa is to achieve its promise. The 
country, which is the size of Western Europe, lies at the geographic 
heart of Africa and borders every major region across the continent. If 
left untended, Congo's tragedy will continue to infect Africa--from 
North to South; from East to West.
  I believe that the United States can make a profound difference in 
this crisis. According to international aid agencies, there are 
innumerable cost-effective interventions that could be quickly 
undertaken--such as the provision of basic medical care, immunization 
and clean water--that could save thousands of lives. On the political 
front, sustained U.S. leadership could fill a perilous vacuum.
  The bill that we are introducing here today is an important step on 
the long road towards bringing peace and prosperity to the Congo. I am 
proud to be a part of a collaborative, bipartisan effort with some of 
the Senate's leading voices on Africa--Senators Brownback, Durbin and 
DeWine.
  This bill establishes 14 core principles of U.S. policy across a 
range of issues; authorizes a 25 percent increase in U.S. assistance 
for the Democratic Republic of the Congo; calls for a Special Envoy to 
resolve the situation in Eastern Congo; and urges the Administration to 
use its voice and vote at the

[[Page S13789]]

United Nations Security Council to strengthen the U.N. peacekeeping 
force that is providing security in parts of the Congo.
  The legislation has been endorsed by a number of faith-based and 
humanitarian nongovernmental organizations, including some with 
extensive field operations in Congo: CARE, Catholic Relief Services, 
Global Witness, International Crisis Group, International Rescue 
Committee, and Oxfam America. I ask unanimous consent that these 
letters of support be printed in the Record.
  I want to stress something before closing. We are under no illusion 
that enacting the policies in this bill would be a panacea for Congo's 
many ills. But the one thing we do know is that the one way to ensure 
that a complex problem will not be resolved is to accept the status 
quo.
  The other thing we know is that status quo in the Democratic Republic 
of Congo is unacceptable--unacceptable to the women and children caught 
up in the crossfire, unacceptable to the civilians being felled by 
preventable disease, unacceptable to a continent that is making great 
strides, and unacceptable to our country, the United States, which has 
the financial and diplomatic resources to make a profound difference.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues and the administration 
to enacting this bill and working to promote peace and prosperity in 
the Congo.
  There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                     Catholic Relief Services,

                                  Baltimore, MD, December 2, 2005.
     Hon. Barack Obama,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Obama: Catholic Relief Services would like to 
     commend you for your leadership in writing in ``Democratic 
     Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy 
     Promotion Act of 2005''. We also want to sincerely thank you 
     and your staff for giving us the opportunity to comment on an 
     early draft of the bill and for incorporating some of our 
     recommendations.
       As an agency active on the ground in the Democratic 
     Republic of the Congo (DRC) for many years, we support this 
     legislation as a vehicle for elevating the priority of the 
     DRC among lawmakers and policy makers. The bill advances key 
     U.S. policy objectives for promoting peace, justice, 
     democracy, and development in the DRC, and also allocates 
     much-needed additional funds for the DRC.
       We look forward to working with you and your staff to gain 
     support for the bill and advance its goals.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Ken Hackett,
     President.
                                  ____

                                                 December 9, 2005.
     Hon. Barack Obama,
     Senate Hart Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Obama: As representatives of humanitarian, 
     civil society and conflict prevention organizations, we are 
     writing to express our support for the Democratic Republic of 
     the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 
     2005, and our appreciation of your efforts to ensure that the 
     longstanding conflict in the region receives the attention it 
     demands.
       As stated in the legislation, the conflict in the eastern 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo touches every major region 
     of the continent and is one of the deadliest since World War 
     II. Some 3.8 million people have lost their lives due to the 
     conflict in the last six years.
       Despite these troubling statistics, the DRC is not without 
     hope. Landmark elections are planned for next year and, with 
     strong support from the international community, they have 
     the potential to help end the longstanding violence and put 
     the country on the path toward peace and stability. Your 
     legislation would ensure the active participation of the 
     United States and authorizes critical funding to address 
     humanitarian and development needs, promote good governance 
     and rule of law, and help ensure transparent management of 
     natural resource revenues.
       We look forward to continuing work with you and your staff 
     on this important issue and in particular, would like to note 
     the effort Mr. Mark Lippert has made to reach out to our 
     community and incorporate our recommendations.
           Sincerely,

                                                     CARE USA,

                              Global Witness, International Rescue
     Committee, Oxfam America.
                                  ____



                                   International Crisis Group,

                                 Washington, DC, December 8, 2005.
     Senator Barack Obama,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC.
       Dear Senator Obama: The International Crisis Group strongly 
     supports the Democratic Republic of Congo Relief, Security, 
     and Democracy Promotion Act of 2005 and your efforts to raise 
     the visibility of and define new policies to respond to this 
     largely overlooked, longstanding, and deadly conflict.
       The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has had 
     far reaching regional consequences and resulted in the loss 
     of an estimated 4 million lives since 1998. The situation in 
     the country, especially in the eastern region where armed 
     groups continue to assault local communities, remains most 
     precarious and in need of urgent action.
       The country is now on the brink of landmark elections 
     scheduled for next year. Crisis Group has advocated 
     comprehensive action to stop the suffering of the Congolese 
     people and ensure the success of the transition by June 2006.
       Your legislation would ensure the active participation of 
     the United States in this effort and help in promoting good 
     governance and justice. It would further authorize critical 
     funding to address development needs and provide life-saving 
     humanitarian assistance to millions of conflict-affected 
     civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
       Your leadership in introducing this legislation is greatly 
     appreciated and we look forward to continue to work with you 
     and your staff on this important issue.
           Yours sincerely,

                                            Mark L. Schneider,

                              Senior Vice President, International
                                                     Crisis Group.
                                 ______