[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   A RESOLUTION TO URGE THE PRESIDENT TO APPOINT A SPECIAL ENVOY FOR 
                           MIDDLE EAST PEACE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 8, 2007

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution urging President Bush to send a special envoy to the Middle 
East to focus on solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  In my view, we have not committed enough resources to encourage peace 
in the region.
  Maintaining the security of the State of Israel will always remain a 
priority of Congress and the United States of America.
  This resolution does not change our policy for a secure and safe 
Israel, but acknowledges that we need to play a more constructive role 
in the region.
  I was encouraged to see Secretary Condoleezza Rice make a trip to the 
region last month.
  I was also pleased to see the Quartet recently meet to reaffirm their 
commitment to the peace process.
  These are important steps, but I worry that they will have the same 
result as similar efforts and we will not see the type of sustained 
diplomacy required to solve such a complex issue.
  I am calling on all my colleagues to help me send a message that we 
need a new approach. We need a special envoy with the authority to 
bring all responsible parties to the table.
  This role was critical in the 1990s and is necessary today.
  This envoy would work with the Secretary of State to ensure a 
constant, high-level American presence and provide our country with the 
ability to capitalize on every opportunity for progress.
  The United States, Israel and the entire international community 
cannot afford to miss an opportunity to broker a lasting peace.
  A special envoy, with the sanctioned mission of securing a lasting 
peace through negotiation, must be dispatched to the region.
  Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to introduce this 
resolution today.

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