Statement of U.S. Senator Durbin on Administration Decision Regarding Sudanese Sanctions

Statement

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after this morning's announcement by the Administration regarding sanctions in Sudan.

"Six weeks ago, President Bush declared that the U.S. has 'a moral obligation' to stop the genocide in Darfur. Last week, I urged him to follow-through on his call to stop the killing. Today, the President took a first step."

"I hope today's announcement will be followed closely with a new United Nations Security Council resolution imposing multilateral economic sanctions and other restrictions on Sudan. A threatened veto by the Security Council should not silence us."

"Each week we delay, hundreds of families are torn apart and thousands of people face annihilation. We need action and we need it now."

"Next week, I will be introducing legislation that will increase the penalties for violating U.S. sanctions against Sudan, require U.S.-listed companies that operate in the Sudanese oil industry to file more detailed SEC disclosures, and require regular progress reports from the Administration. The Senate has already passed bipartisan legislation I introduced in March, the Genocide Accountability Act, which closes the legal loopholes that prevent the Justice Department from prosecuting those who've committed genocide outside the United States. The full Congress must act to get these bills to the President for his signature."

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