[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 REGARDING EFFORTS TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN 
                                 SUDAN

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                               speech of

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2003

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, our hopes and prayers are with those working 
diligently to secure peace for the people of Sudan. The ongoing 
negotiations can be observed with cautious optimism that a peace 
agreement will soon be at hand.
  I observed with great interest yesterday's debate on H. Res. 194, 
regarding the importance of international efforts to abolish slavery 
and other human rights abuses in Sudan. I share the concerns of my 
colleagues and their desire to see an end to slavery and human rights 
abuses in the Sudan and elsewhere in the world.
  I want to associate myself with the remarks of my distinguished 
colleague from New York, Representative Ed Towns, who so eloquently 
framed the issue on the future of Sudan. While we cannot forget the 
past, there is nothing we can do to change it. The time has come for us 
to commit to a lasting peace and an end to hostilities and abuses in 
sub-Saharan Africa.
  I join my colleague, Mr. Towns, in support of an NGO-sponsored fact-
finding mission to Sudan and a report on their findings on the current 
situation in the Sudan with regard to allegations of slavery, human 
rights abuses and religious persecution. I call on others to join me 
and Mr. Towns in this effort to uncover the truth about Sudan.

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