“I believe the measures included in this bill are absolutely necessary to pressure the government of Sudan to stop the horrendous genocide in Darfur,” Franks said.  “We have seen repeatedly that Khartoum has not responded to verbal threats, and in order to promote peace in that region and save thousands of lives, we must seek true punitive measures that will bring an end to this violence and destruction of human life.”

This bill immediately imposes the sanctions listed in the Sudan Peace Act, notwithstanding the certification process.  It also calls on the President to freeze the assets of senior Sudanese officials.  These provisions will put additional pressure on the Government of Sudan to halt the genocide and seriously engage in a peace process in the Darfur region.

Introduced by Representative Tom Tancredo, along with Reps. Franks (AZ-2), Pitts (PA-16), Lantos (CA-12) and Payne (NJ-10), H.R. 5061 also provides assistance to Darfur and eastern Chad, which can be used for both humanitarian assistance and support for the African Union mission, as well as aid to support the implementation of peace in Sudan.  Giving additional development aid to opposition-controlled areas is not only consistent with existing United States policy, but will also give material incentive and aspiration to the Sudanese people that they can find meaning and purpose in rebuilding the South.

“We know genocide is being committed in the region, and we must now show that there are consequences to committing such atrocities and the extinguishing of human life.”