Press Releases
Contact:
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
For Immediate Release
12/18/2007
Pelosi: 'Economic Pressure on Sudan Will Intensify Until the Genocide in Darfur Finally Comes to an End’
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the
following statement today on the House unanimously passing S. 2271, which
authorizes states to divest from Sudan and banning new federal contracts with
companies doing business with the government of Sudan. The bill will now be
sent to the President for his signature.
“Today the U.S.
Congress is sending a strong message that economic pressure on the Sudanese
government will continue to intensify until the genocide in Darfur finally
comes to an end.
“Young people, the religious community, and state
governments are leading divestment campaigns all across America. This legislation will empower their efforts
and help ensure that money from American citizens will not contribute to a
genocidal regime.
“It has been six months since the U.N. Security Council
authorized a new United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur but Sudanese
President Omar al Bashir continues to block its deployment. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands
of civilians have been killed and more than 2 million people have been
displaced. The United States and the
international community must step up our efforts while there is still an
opportunity to save lives.”