Bill Text: MI HCR0051 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution to decry the atrocities taking place in Darfur and to urge the President and Congress to take all steps possible to alleviate the suffering and bring about a lasting political settlement in the region.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 39-24)
Status: (Passed) 2010-06-24 - Adopted By Senate - Referred To The Clerk For Record [HCR0051 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-HCR0051-Engrossed.html
HCR51, As Adopted by Senate, June 24, 2010
Reps. Robert Jones, Nathan, Stanley, Young, Johnson, Womack, Bettie Scott, Gregory, Cushingberry, Lemmons, Jackson, Durhal, Tlaib, Smith, Dean, Espinoza, Gonzales, Polidori, Paul Scott, Ball, Terry Brown, Liss, Lund, Miller, Scripps, Valentine and Warren offered the following concurrent resolution:
House Concurrent Resolution No. 51.
A concurrent resolution to decry the atrocities taking place in Darfur and to urge the President and Congress to take all steps possible to alleviate the suffering and bring about a lasting political settlement in the region.
Whereas, Since 2003, The Darfur region of Sudan and has been embroiled in armed, tumultuous, divisive, and deadly conflict among Sudanese government armed forces, allied militia known as the Janjaweed, and rebel Sudanese groups known as the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement; and
Whereas, The rebel Sudanese Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement challenged the Sudanese government about oppression of non-Arabs, decades of neglect, and the underdevelopment and political marginalization of the region, and the Sudanese government’s armed forces and the Janjaweed forces, largely composed of Arab nomadic fighters, responded by targeting and torturing civilian, largely African non-Arab Darfurian populations. The Janjaweed paramilitary forces have systematically starved civilians; raped, sexually assaulted, and branded women and girls; murdered men, women, and children; looted, razed, and burned houses, crops, and villages to the ground; and launched massive aerial bombardments and ground assaults; and
Whereas, More than 400,000 Darfurian people have been killed; more than 2.5 million innocent persons have been forced to flee their homes and relocate in Chad and other neighboring areas; and more than 4 million men, women, and children have received and relied on international aid for survival. The defenseless people who have remained in Darfur face huge shortages of safe food, water, and medicines; infectious diseases; substandard sanitation and nutrition; and eventual displacement or death; and
Whereas, Since 1916, when Sudan became a British Colony, and 1956, when Sudan gained independence from the United Kingdom, Darfur’s history has included civil strife, religious conflict, environmental calamity, political exploitation, deadly famine, and civilian attacks during decades of conflict and economic neglect and marginalization; and
Whereas, The Darfurian people lack the resources to resolve the country’s internal conflicts. The African Union has a peace force of 7,000 in Darfur who are unpaid, under trained, outnumbered, and inadequately equipped to protect Darfurians; and
Whereas, The displacement of Darfurians to Chad has resulted in refugee camps for thousands who have fled Darfur and also require stability and security from an international force; and
Whereas, Darfur is now facing its worst humanitarian crisis since 1988. This continuing violent conflict is one of the worst crises in the world, and the extraordinary escalating strife and violence in Darfur is a global issue, and not just an African problem. A political settlement being essential to resolve this terrible situation and halt the genocide, there is an urgent need for international involvement and the leadership of the Untied States; now therefore be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we decry the atrocities taking place in Darfur and urge the President and Congress to take all steps possible to alleviate the suffering and bring about a lasting political settlement in the region. We also urge educational institutions, corporations, community and civic organizations, churches, the media, and others to work to end the human rights abuses in Darfur; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the office of the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
