Statement Of Sen. Patrick Leahy,
Congressional Record,
Washington Dawdles While Darfur Suffers
June 6, 2006

Mr. LEAHY.  Mr. President, while the Senate, with the encouragement of a White House in full campaign mode, debates a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage – a debate which will consume days of the Senate’s time and is all about scoring political points in an election year – the disaster in Darfur rages on. 

It has been nearly four weeks since a peace agreement was signed between the Sudanese Government and one of the rebel groups, but violence, hunger and disease continue to claim innocent lives. 

Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, recently described the humanitarian situation in Darfur as being on the verge of collapse. 

In the midst of this calamity, the Senate is focused on other matters.  Gay marriage.  Next it will be flag burning.  And then full repeal of the estate tax, to benefit the wealthiest of the wealthy.  Solutions in search of a problem, while whole villages burn, their inhabitants are slaughtered, and relief organizations in Darfur struggle to cope without adequate resources.    

Between a quarter of a million and half a million people have perished in Darfur -- mostly civilians whose villages have been reduced to ashes.  Many, who escaped being shot or hacked to death, have died from hunger and disease.  

The Sudanese Government has obstructed the deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping force in Darfur.  The African Union has done its best, but with only 7,000 troops, inadequate resources and a weak mandate to patrol a vast area with few roads, it has been unable to provide civilians with the protection they need.   

I am so very proud that two high school students in Vermont are setting a moral example for all Americans.  Ben Rome and Brian Banks, seniors at Essex High School, outraged over the tragedy that is unfolding half a world away, felt compelled to do something about it.  They have organized a public rally in Burlington, Vermont for this coming Sunday to bring Vermonters together to speak out about one of the worst human disasters in recent memory.  I look forward to joining Ben and Brian and other concerned Vermonters this weekend. 

The Supplemental Appropriations Bill for Iraq, Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina recovery, and Sudan, which should be completed this week – and I hope we can find the time to pass it – contains additional funds to support the current level of peacekeepers in Darfur through the remainder of this year.  This will help, but twice that amount is needed. 

The Supplemental also provides additional funds for food and other humanitarian aid.  It should shame the White House and the Congress to reflect on the fact that we know we are not doing enough.   

We also provide funds to support a Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan, to work in pursuit of peace in Darfur and stability throughout Sudan, northern Uganda and Chad.  We need someone of the caliber of Senator Danforth to be working continuously to help solve the Darfur crisis.

A tragedy like this is bigger than any of us as individuals, but it’s not too big if we join together in constructive action – as individuals, as private relief organizations, and as nations.

America is a great and good nation with the power to help stop this.  But it will take sustained attention.  And it will take the efforts of committed citizens like Brian Banks and Ben Rome who, one by one, are opening the world’s eyes to a tragedy that must be stopped.

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