JCPA Action Alert

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Background

The Save Darfur Coalition has indicated that it is expected that voting on both the Darfur Accountability Act and a Darfur-related amendment to FY05 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation (ESA) bill will take place either today (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday).  The Darfur Accountability Act, which was introduced by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Senator Jon Corzine (NJ-D) in early March, calls on the Administration to appoint a new special envoy on Sudan, increase sanctions, and apply other diplomatic pressure to help end the crisis in Darfur.  The amendment to the ESA bill, proposed by Senators Brownback and Corzine, along with Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), calls for an additional $53 million to help expand and strengthen the African Union mission in Darfur, and $40 million for additional disaster aid (total $93 million).

Action Needed

Please contact your senators as soon as possible and ask them to support both the Darfur Accountability Act and the Darfur-related amendment to the FY05 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation bill.  You may use the Save Darfur Coalition’s automated letter-writing webpage at http://hq.demaction.org/dia/organizations/darfur/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=407.

Senator Bayh has already signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill, so when you call his office, thank him for his support and urge him to also support the amendment in the FY05 Appropriation bill.