Senator Clinton Announces Full Congressional Approval of Her Measure to Ensure Oversight of US Action in Darfur

Legislation Now Goes to the President's Desk to Be Signed Into Law

December 14, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that the Senate has approved a measure she introduced to address the Bush Administration’s response to the crisis in Darfur. The amendment, approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, requires the Department of Defense and the Department of State to report jointly on the planning and implementation of the policy of the United States to end the violence, including any plans for a no-fly zone, and ensure appropriate Congressional oversight of U.S. activity in the region. Having been approved by both chambers of Congress, the legislation now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“The suffering of children and families in Darfur must stop, and I urge all parties to immediately cease hostilities,” said Senator Clinton. “The Administration must create consequences for those perpetrating these atrocities or allowing them to go on, and Congress’s vote today is an important step in ensuring that our government is giving this crisis the attention it requires.”

Senator Clinton’s amendment requires the Department of Defense and Department of State to report jointly on U.S. contributions to NATO, the United Nations (UN), and the African Union (AU) in support of the current African Union Mission in Sudan or any related peacekeeping operation. The report requires an evaluation of the government of Sudan’s compliance with its obligations under international law. The report also calls for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of a no-fly zone for Darfur, including on humanitarian efforts in the region, and a plan to minimize any negative impact on those efforts during the implementation of a no-fly zone. Lastly, the report requires an assessment of the role played by rebel forces in contributing to violence being carried out against civilians and humanitarian organization, and of the impact of such activities on international efforts to create conditions of peace and security on the ground.

Since 2004, Senator Clinton has called repeatedly for action in Darfur. Most recently, she joined a bipartisan group of Senators on a resolution calling for the urgent deployment of a multinational peacekeeping mission to protect civilians in Darfur, as well as for the renewal of diplomatic efforts toward a comprehensive peace process (S. Res. 276), which passed the Senate in August. In concert to this legislation, Senator Clinton joined with other Senators in sending a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon which expressed concerned about the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan and its destabilizing impact in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic; and called for the appointment of a Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG) for Sudan. She co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution that calls on China to use its close relationship with Sudan to help end the violence in Darfur (S. Res 203), which passed the Senate in July. Senator Clinton joined a bipartisan group of members of Congress in sending a letter to President Bush, urging him to press the Sudanese government to facilitate humanitarian operations in Darfur. Additionally, Senator Clinton co-sponsored a resolution calling on the international community to develop a regional strategy to encourage a sustainable peace in Darfur and the affected region (S.Res.76). S. Res. 76 passed the Senate in April.

Source: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •