2006 Legislation

Continuing Resolution: House Joint Resolution 20

H. J. Res. 20 was introduced on January 29^th, 2007 by Rep. David Obey [1] (D-WI).

The bill details appropriations for the FY07 Budget. Out of the $223 million that has been committed to the total peacekeeping operations budget, it provides no less than $50 million for peacekeeping operations in Sudan. The bill was signed by the President on February 15^th, 2007.

View Text of H. J. Res 20 [2]

Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006: House Resolution 3127

The Darfur Peace and Accountability Act was introduced on June 30, 2005 by former Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL). There were 162 co-sponsors of the bill.

The bill imposes sanctions against officials who the President identifies as responsible for the genocide. It also urges the President to deny U.S. port entry to any ships engaged in business in Sudan’s oil sector. While Congress initially stalled on the measure, constituent pressure resulted in a 416 to 3 vote on April 5, 2006. The Senate later revised the bill, stripping it of an important measure which would have protected states that divest from the worst-offending companies in Sudan. This revised DPAA was passed by a unanimous voice vote on Sept. 25, 2006 and signed into law by the President on Oct. 13, 2006.

View text of House Resolution 3127 [3]

More about the DPAA from Wikipedia [4]

Foreign Operations Appropriations Act: House Resolution 5522

H.R. 5522 made appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the 2007 fiscal year. Reps. Tom Lantos [5] (D-CA), David Obey [6] (D-WI) and former Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) offered an amendment to increase humanitarian aid to Darfur by $50 million. Congress voted against the amendment on June 8, 2006, by a vote of 198 to 225, despite the fact that aid organizations were forced to drastically cut food rations to refugees in the region in April 2006.

View text of House Resolution 5522 [7]

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act: House Resolution 4939

H.R. 4939 made emergency supplemental appropriations for the 2006 fiscal year. Rep. Michael Capuano [8] (D-MA) offered an amendment to this resolution which increased funding for African Union peacekeepers by $50 million. AU peacekeepers were outmanned and under-funded, and this critical amendment was meant to ensure that the AU could better protect civilians in Darfur. Congress voted in favor of the amendment on March 16, 2006, by a vote of 213 to 208.

View text of House Resolution 4939 [9]

No-fly zone: Senate Resolution 559

S.Res. 559 was introduced on September 7, 2006 by Senator Joseph Biden [10]. There were 37 co-sponsors of the bill.

The resolution calls on the President and the United Nations to take immediate, specific steps to end the genocide in Darfur. The resolution calls on the UN to deploy peacekeeping troops to the region to protect civilians as soon as possible. It also urges the President to work with NATO and the UN to enforce a no-fly zone in Darfur. The resolution was agreed to on September 13, 2006.

View text of House Resolution 559 [11]

Darfur Genocide Accountability Act of 2005: House Resolution 1424

The Darfur Genocide Accountability Act (DGAA) was introduced on March 17, 2005 by Rep. Donald Payne [12] (D-NJ). There were 138 co-sponsors of the bill.

The Darfur Genocide Accountability Act calls for targeted sanctions against Sudanese government officials, authorizes the President to use force to stop the genocide, and denies port entry to ships engaged in business in the oil sector of Sudan. Although the bill never passed, it provided a powerful precedent for future congressional action; The DGAA paved the way for the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act which passed on September 25, 2006.

View text of House Resolution 1424 [13]

Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act: Senate Resolution 2781

S.Res. 2781 was introduced on September 9, 2004 by Senator Richard Lugar [14] (R-IN). There were 18 co-sponsors of the bill.

The resolution reports to Congress on the genocide in Darfur as well as calls for a comprehensive peace in all of Sudan. The bill provides humanitarian assistance to civilians in Darfur, pledges resources to the African Union force, and places sanctions on the government of Sudan. The resolution was signed by the president on December 23, 2004.

View text of Senate Resolution 2781 [15]

Sudan Peace Act: House Resolution 5531

H.R. 5531 was introduced on October 2, 2002 by Representative Tom Tancredo [16]. There were 13 co-sponsors of the bill.

The bill seeks to facilitate a comprehensive peace solution for the war between Northern and Southern Sudan. The bill encourages the Government of Sudan to enter into a good faith peace process and promote democratic development in areas that are not in Khartoum’s control. It attempts to foster reconciliation in non-governmental areas and strengthen humanitarian relief mechanisms. The bill condemns human rights violations on both sides of the conflict, though it focuses on the wide range of abuses committed by the Government of Sudan. The Sudan Peace Act was signed into law on October 21, 2002.

View text of House Resolution 5531 [17]