This update from Sharona Shapiro, the director of the American Jewish Committee office in Detroit, and an initiating member of the Detroit2Darfur Coalition.

Update on Darfur Legislation

We are pleased that this week the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (H.R.3127), passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives by a vote of 416-3.

The passage of the legislation comes five months after the Senate debated and passed a version of the bill (S.1462) on November 18, 2005. The House measure would authorize sanctions against, and also freeze the assets of, individuals responsible for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region of Sudan. Unlike the Senate version, H.R.3127, does not call for U.S. force in Darfur. It does, however, seekU.S. support for international and African Union humanitarian efforts and programs to protect citizens. There are numerous other differences between the two bills.

Congress has also been contemplating funding for Sudan. In his Fiscal Year 2006 Emergency Supplemental Budget request, President Bush asked for a total of $514 million to go to Sudan, with $351 million specifically earmarked for aid to the Darfur region, and the rest going to the remainder of the country. Of the $351 million, $123 million would be specifically for peacekeeping efforts in Darfur with remainder going to humanitarian aid.

In March, the full House of Representatives passed a FY06 budget including $173 million for peacekeeping efforts, bringing the total funding for Sudan to $564 million. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a budget including similar numbers and a total of $564 of funding for Sudan this week. The FY06 Supplemental Budget in both the House and the Senate totals around $92 billion of funding.

AJC will continue to advocate for generous funding to stop the atrocities in Darfur.

Please contact the AJC [national] office at 202-785-4200 with any questions.

Thank you.