Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior Democrat on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today submitted the following statement at a Foreign Relations hearing to examine the continuing crisis in Darfur. The full text of his remarks as prepared for delivery is below:

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for holding this hearing today. The crisis in Darfur remains one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of our time, and I believe that it is vitally important the United States remains actively engaged in bringing to an end one of the worst acts of genocide since Rwanda.

As a young man living under apartheid in South Africa, Mr. Mabaso was imprisoned for his beliefs alongside leaders such as Patrick Chamusso and Nelson Mandela.  During his time at the infamous Robben Island Prison, Mr. Mabaso was subjected to brutal acts of torture and forced to survive in harsh conditions.  Despite these hardships, Mr. Mabaso and his fellow political prisoners refuse to give up hope or abandon their calls for racial and economic equality. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today released the following statement on the fifth anniversary of the War in Iraq:

“On the 5^th Anniversary of the War in Iraq, all Americans, regardless of their feelings about this war, can be proud of the brave men and women who have served our country honorably, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice.  We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude, and their service will never be forgotten. 

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) yesterday joined a bipartisan group of Senators urging Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to reexamine U.S. policy toward Cuba in the wake of Fidel Castro’s resignation.  Dodd, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, has been an outspoken supporter of ending the U.S. embargo on Cuba.     

In a letter sent yesterday to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) expressed serious concern regarding recent reports of the killing of civilians by members of the Colombian Armed Forces.  The senators urged Secretary Rice to withhold a portion of military aid to Colombia until the Colombian government makes progress in investigating and prosecuting these cases, moving them into the civilian justice system, and ensuring that new cases do not occur.  Senators Dodd and Feingold were joined by Senators Sanders (I-VT), Brown (D-OH), Kerry (D-MA), Kennedy (D-MA), Boxer (D-CA), Durbin (D-IL), Kohl (D-WI), Harkin (D-IA), Mikulski (D-MD), Whitehouse (D-RI), Casey (D-PA), and Johnson (D-SD) in sending the letter.    

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, today issued the following statement in reaction to Fidel Castro’s resignation:

“The United States' embargo on Cuba is one of the most backward and ineffective foreign policies in history. Today, America has an opportunity to finally turn a new page. We must begin the process of opening up diplomatic and commercial relations with Havana, and help Cuba and the United States transition to a new era and relationship – one of freedom, democracy, and prosperity for the Cuban people, and one of mutual respect between our two nations.”

“The statement by a White House spokesperson yesterday asserting that waterboarding is legal and President Bush could authorize the CIA to continue using this technique demonstrates a staggering disregard for the rule of law. Let me be clear: there is no such thing as “simulated” drowning.  When a person is strapped to a board and water is poured into their mouth and nose with no way to get air, that is drowning; that is torture.  The President must repudiate this statement and make clear that all forms of torture—including waterboarding—are always wrong and always illegal.”

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today hailed the signing of his legislation, the “Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act,” into law.  The new law will provide several tools for pressuring the government of Sudan into halting the ongoing genocide in Darfur. 

After nearly a full day spent on the Senate floor, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) defeated an attempt to pass the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reform legislation that would grant immunity to telecommunications companies who cooperated with the Bush administration’s secret wiretapping program.  Dodd objected to the motion to proceed to the bill early this morning and remained on the floor for almost ten hours, taking a stand for the rule of law and the Constitution with his statements throughout the day.  At approximately 7:30 P.M. Majority Leader Reid announced the FISA reform bill would be pulled from the Senate calendar and reconsidered in January. 

Senator Chris Dodd today will make the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding his opposition to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reform legislation being considered by the Senate: 

Mr. President:

I rise to urge my colleagues to vote against cloture on S. 2248, the FISA Amendments Act of 2007.