[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5792-S5793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 579--HONORING THE LIFE OF MANUTE BOL AND EXPRESSING 
              THE CONDOLENCES OF THE SENATE ON HIS PASSING

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

                              S. Res. 579

       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;

[[Page S5793]]

       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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