[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 DARFUR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2007

  Mr. McINTYRE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 
situation in Darfur in western Sudan. As you know, nearly 450,000 
people have been killed and over two million have been displaced as the 
violence continues to rage in this region. Neighboring nations have 
absorbed hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled their homes to 
escape the carnage that has unfortunately become a way of life in 
Darfur. Even humanitarian aid workers have become targets of the 
violence.
  I am encouraged by the recent agreement between the United Nations 
and the African Union on the make up of a peacekeeping force to patrol 
the region. This agreement is a step in the right direction, but it is 
vital that the peacekeeping mission begins soon and the peacekeepers 
are allowed to carry out their mission effectively. It is important 
that we support those who are working to restore peace to the millions 
of innocent people caught in the tragedy in Darfur.
  Nearly 3 years ago, on July 22, 2004, the U.S. House of 
Representatives declared the atrocities in Darfur to be genocide. The 
vote was bipartisan and unanimous. In the 110th Congress, we have 
already passed resolutions addressing the situation in Darfur with 
overwhelming bipartisan majorities.
  This issue is not one of partisan politics or ideological 
differences. It is a moral issue, and we in the House of 
Representatives are united in our efforts to stop the violence and end 
the suffering in Darfur.
  We can still do more. It is important that we divest funds from 
companies that do business with the government of Sudan. Divestment is 
an effective policy tool that would prevent the government of Sudan 
from receiving financial resources it is using to fund these 
atrocities. In addition, divestment is the right thing to do. It does 
not make sense to fund indirectly the very genocide we seek to end.
  The crisis in Darfur is a tragedy of our times. I am pleased that the 
House of Representatives has taken action to ease the suffering of the 
innocent people in Darfur, and I look forward to continuing to work 
with my colleagues in the House to bring this terrible chapter of 
history to a close with a just and lasting peace in Sudan. May God help 
us all do the right thing.

                          ____________________