Condemning the Wakf's digging activities at the Temple Mount site and deploring the destruction of artifacts vitally important to Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths.

I thank my friend and colleague from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner).

Mr. Speaker, the intent of this resolution is to recognize the outstanding work of the school, community and faith-based advocacy groups who, through their moral commitment and tireless efforts and countless hours of volunteer service, have helped bring needed attention to the genocide occurring in Darfur. Their efforts reflect the true spirit of Americans and bring hope to those who are facing historic atrocities halfway around the world.

I want to particularly commend the students who are fueling this nationwide movement, urging action to stop genocide by educating their peers and holding us, their elected officials, accountable.

And hold us accountable they have. I recently met with students from an organization whose primary goal is to form a nationwide anti- genocide coalition. This organization has more than 700 chapters, provides students with creative and effective organizing materials and policy and advocacy training. Recently, in my home State of Virginia, several outstanding students from the New School of Virginia held a 3- day conference where they educated fellow students about the genocide in Darfur.

I was so moved by their sincere and energetic commitment to ending that genocide, I invited the students to Congress, where they were led by Semhar Araia and Lia Parada of my staff. These high school students briefed Members of Congress on their efforts to put pressure on the Government of Sudan to stop the genocide. Having given their peers numerous briefings on the situation in Darfur, these students took it upon themselves to ask poignant, pressing questions of our colleagues. Their message was clear: help us save Darfur.

Having learned that villages have been razed, women systematically raped and branded, men murdered, and food and water supplies destroyed, they are determined to make a difference, and to continue speaking up until their government does the right thing.

Now, we hear slogans from our President like, ``not on our watch,'' and we believe that he is sincere when he says that. But our society continues to be witness to a crisis as devastating as Rwanda. Our youth can't understand why it continues today, after years of knowing what has been going on, tens of thousands have died, hundreds of thousands are displaced and living in refugee camps. More than 2 million people have been driven from their homes.

And over the last few years, we've seen major changes in U.S. foreign policy with respect to the ongoing crisis in Darfur, but a far more aggressive response is still needed.

On July 22 of 2004, Congress declared that the atrocities unfolding in Darfur constituted genocide. On September 9 of that year, former Secretary of State Colin Powell stated that ``genocide has been committed in Darfur and that the Government of Sudan and the janjaweed bear responsibility.''

On April 18 of this year, President George Bush asserted that the United States has a moral obligation to help end the genocide in Darfur. But it still goes on.

Had it not been for the grass-roots effort to pressure the administration and other national governments on this humanitarian crisis, I doubt we would see the United Nations African Union peacekeepers in Darfur.

But we have got to do so much more. The mission is not complete. Just last month, on September 29, an estimated 1,000 members of a heavily armed Darfur rebel group overran a base in Haskanita, which is occupied by the African Union Mission. This ambush resulted in intense fighting that killed 10 peacekeepers and wounded many others; 50 soldiers are still missing. According to U.N. estimates, in the aftermath of the brutal attack, 15,000 civilians had to flee the area to neighboring towns or the wilderness.

The effort and resources put into resolving this conflict pale compared to what the President has requested for Iraq. Clearly, there's so much more that we as a Nation could be doing to end this crisis. The humanitarian situation is not improving. African Union peacekeeping forces are limited to only 7,000 troops. As evidenced by the attack on Haskanita, it is unlikely that their efforts alone will ensure any real meaningful progress. We've got to keep

pressuring the Sudanese Government and build support for a larger peacekeeping force. More Americans need to speak out day in, day out, like these students are. We cannot continue to allow the raping, the massacreing, the displacement of people to continue. These students are asking us to hear them, to act, and to bring to bear the strength of the nations of the world to address this conflict.

That's why I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution that recognizes those who have selflessly devoted themselves to raising awareness of the crisis in Darfur.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me the time and for his leadership on so many issues advocating human rights, but especially the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

I also want to thank Congressman Jim Moran for introducing this resolution that recognizes and commends the outstanding work carried out by dozens of national organizations and literally thousands of local groups across the country to educate Americans and motivate them to take action on ending the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

Mr. Speaker, on April 28, 2006, my House colleagues, Representatives Moran of Virginia, Tom Lantos, John Olver and Sheila Jackson-Lee, joined me for a protest in front of the Sudanese embassy here in Washington as part of a larger effort organized by religious, student, and human rights groups to focus the country's attention on the genocide in Darfur. All of us were arrested and many of us joined thousands of our fellow citizens 2 days later for the national rally on the Mall to stop the genocide in Darfur.

I brought my two children, Patrick and Molly, to that rally so that they could listen to the speeches, see the great diversity of people united in effort, and meet so many of the young people and students who have been engaged in the cause of ending genocide.

I happen to be especially blessed, Mr. Speaker, in having 13 colleges and universities in the Third Congressional District of Massachusetts, an engaged religious community of many faiths and school districts that believe in debating the serious issues of the day inside the classrooms. I had been hearing and learning about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur for months from elementary school, middle school, high school and college students, from religious leaders and community groups, from the Armenian American community in Worcester, and from local human rights and refugee advocates.

When I stood with my colleague in front of the Sudanese embassy, I was there not just to protest the genocide, but to honor the broad coalition of voices that works every day, that works day after day, week after week and year after year to end the violence, the terror, the humanitarian crisis, the genocide in Darfur. Among these are the Save Darfur Coalition, STAND, ENOUGH, and the Genocide Intervention Network.

Since the national rally on the Mall a little over a year and a half ago, these groups have continued to raise the awareness of the American people. Over the April recess, I had the privilege of traveling to eastern Chad to meet some of the 300,000 refugees from Darfur living in camps along the Chad-Sudan border. I spent several days with representatives from UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Food Program, Oxfam, ICRC, Catholic Relief Services, Doctors Without Borders and so many others whose lives and work are completely focused on responding to the humanitarian crisis. I cannot possibly express in words the respect and admiration I have for them and all the other NGOs working inside Darfur and in Chad and the Central African Republic with the nearly 3 million people displaced from their homes by the violence in Darfur.

Mr. Speaker, today we are considering three bills on Darfur: this one, that recognizes and commends the work of advocacy groups and other NGOs who raise awareness and are working to help end the genocide in Darfur; another resolution introduced by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro about the need to protect the women and girls of Darfur from acts of rape and sexual violence that have become commonplace in this conflict; and, a third, condemning in the strongest terms the attacks on September 29 on the African Union peacekeepers.

Mr. Speaker, the genocide goes on. The humanitarian crisis persists. This morning's Washington Post speaks to the fact that the United States and the international community speak with passion, but accomplish little in ending the violence in Darfur. This week another peace conference on Darfur is under way in Libya, except all the parties to the conflict are not present. We must do more, Mr. Speaker, or we will be here 1 year from now, once again bemoaning the killing, the violence, and the terror. The time for action is now.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I appreciate the work of Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Moran, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, those who have brought forward a number of resolutions on Darfur. And there's a reason, I think, we're seeing a confluence of new concern.

This is not the kind of resolution one comes to the floor and says I'm proud to be a cosponsor. It is more in the nature, Mr. Speaker, of an emergency resolution designed to make sure we don't go to sleep on Darfur while the genocide continues.

There are so many things that the world community has done, that the President has done, that NGOs have done; and, yet, here we are with the genocide in place in Darfur. The message is, we haven't done enough, therefore.

I am among those who have been arrested in front of the embassy. Well, the whole point there was to call attention to Darfur, and that was at least more than a year ago, not to mention all that has happened all around the world.

I want to call special attention to the most defenseless victims of the genocide, and those are women who are the victims of rape as individuals, and mass sexual violence of various kinds. The mores of this society may mean that the women in society were more accustomed to being protected by the men. If those were the mores, that, of course, protection is long gone because of the genocide against the men.

So what we have often is a society of women and children defenseless against what appears to be interminable genocide. Just 2 months ago, there was yet another report of mass rapings, dozens of women. It seems to be a modus operandi. When the attacks are made, single out the women after the attacks for rape. The large attacks on the camp bespeak continuing genocide.

What is perhaps most pitiful is that the women continue to do what women in developing societies have always done, to be the wood gatherers of the society, to go out and gather the wood that is necessary to do the cooking and, indeed, to live. There are fire wood patrols that must go with these women, and still the rape continues. The lack of resources for these patrols, the lack of communication and organization for these patrols means that emergency conditions for women and children continue.

The hybrid force for Darfur is not even scheduled to be on the ground until next year. The shame of it all, that the mass rape is often committed by members of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the militias, and that we've been able to do nothing about it, means that we have an obligation to raise our voices about mass rape and abuse of women that is now well documented.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, bear in mind, these are women with no recourse except our raising our own voices. No recourse whatsoever. And consider that after the rape of such women, which is often shameful enough even in a society like ours so the women don't even want to come forward and speak about it, these women often are seen as women who've had sexual intercourse outside of marriage and are open to the crime of Xena or such an offense which would be 100 lashes in addition to the humiliation they have already suffered.

The ultimate victims, of course, are the children who result from pregnancy of these women, the janjaweed child, this often is called, and there that

child sits outside of the society, outside of what is normally done as a matter of course for children.

I hope this resolution begins to put Darfur, its genocide and especially its treatment of women and children, on the front burner once again.

Mr. Speaker, today, the House is considering-three critically important resolutions related to the world's worst ongoing humanitarian disaster--the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

The first is H. Res. 573, which recognizes and commends the efforts of U.S. advocacy groups to raise awareness about and help end the worsening crisis in Darfur. These groups remind us daily, through their media campaigns and grassroots efforts, that the international community has a responsibility to unite and stop crimes against humanity--and that we must learn from past failures to do so--in Rwanda, Bosnia, and elsewhere.

The second is H. Res. 740, which condemns the brutal attack on African Union peacekeepers that occurred in Haskanita, Darfur, 1 month ago today. This violent act, carried out by rebels, took the lives of 10 peacekeepers--seven Nigerians and three other soldiers from Mali, Senegal, and Botswana. It reminds us that there are many guilty parties in the violence in Darfur, and that we must reinforce our support for the courageous African Union soldiers--who indeed fight not for their own countries, but for humanity.

Finally, the House will vote today on H. Res. 726, a resolution calling on the President and the international community to take immediate steps to respond to and prevent acts of rape and sexual violence against the most innocent of Darfur's victims--young girls and women. I was asked to cosponsor this important resolution by my friend and colleague Brad Miller, who traveled with me to Darfur in April. There we saw things we will never forget--children orphaned by genocide and women who had experienced unspeakable personal traumas. We learned that the heartbreaking reality of life in Darfur today means women risk being raped when doing things as simple as collecting firewood. This resolution addresses this horrific reality by authorizing grants to help the women and girls of Darfur and calling for prosecution of those who have carried out such hideously inhumane acts.

I am proud that the U.S. House of Representatives is putting itself on record with these resolutions--as an institution that will not stand idly by while the world's worst humanitarian disaster continues to unfold. While these resolutions are not a panacea to the heart-rending conflict in Darfur, we know from experience that continual pressure on those who take part in such violent, inhumane actions brings us closer to a solution.

That solution must be multi-faceted. It includes not only full and speedy implementation of the United Nations/African Union hybrid peacekeeping force, but also international support for a single, unified peacemaking process. I am extremely disappointed to learn that multiple rebel leaders have chosen violence over peace and declined to participate in the current talks in Libya, but I am hopeful that the representatives that are there--including the representatives of the Government of Sudan--will make progress toward a ceasefire and a viable political solution for this ravaged land. Finally, and equally important, a solution in Darfur must include a sustained and secure role for the courageous humanitarian workers, who risk their lives daily because they are so committed to alleviating the suffering of their fellow human beings.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support these three resolutions.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 573) recognizing and commending the efforts of the United States public and advocacy groups to raise awareness about and help end the worsening humanitarian crisis and genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) for his efforts in this regard and to say

a few words, so I will yield myself such time as I may consume before I recognize the gentleman from Virginia.

The genocide in Darfur has taken a horrific toll on that region. Well over 60 percent of the villages have been destroyed, 2 million people displaced, 400,000 killed, and 200,000 driven into refugee camps in neighboring Chad.

Thanks to the work of tens of thousands of Americans, the genocide has not been ignored. All over the country, local communities have been organizing and mobilizing with regard to this issue.

In response to the call for divestment from Sudan, 20 States have adopted divestment from Sudan policies and another 20 have it under consideration; 58 universities and colleges have adopted policies to divest pension funds from Sudan and another 47 are pursuing similar policies.

In addition, 10 cities, eight international and religious organizations and eight countries have either adopted policies or are in the process of so doing, while seven major international corporations have ceased doing business with the government in Sudan.

While this Congress, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and President Bush have described atrocities in Sudan as genocide and hold the Sudan overwhelmingly responsible, the international community has yet to come together to put an end to the genocide.

I want to commend the American people for not giving up on this issue. The U.N. is deploying peacekeepers. Foreign and civil society groups are also involved.

Muslim pop stars from around the world recently came together at a charity concert for Darfur. The head of the sponsoring organization, Islamic Relief, said, ``British Muslims must unite and raise their voices over the issue of Darfur.''

We cannot allow our voices to remain silent. Therefore, I urge all of our citizens and activist organizations to continue speaking out on Darfur and to continue pressure for economic sanctions and real civilian protections.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to yield as much time as she might consume to the gentlelady from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.