Senate Republicans are now blocking the Sudan Peace Act. In response to a Senate Democratic appeal for unanimous consent to a House-Senate conference for the bill, the Senate Republican leadership has objected. As of this writing, the bill has again been put in legislative limbo. The House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans alike, has already approved—by unanimous consent—a conferencing motion, as well as a slate of conferees to work with the Senate. And Senate Democrats are willing to go to conference: the appeal for unanimous consent for conferencing on the Senate side was made by the Democratic whip, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV). But the Senate Republican leadership—and in particular Republican Senate leader Trent Lott (R-MS)—is now obstructing further legislative progress on the Sudan Peace Act.
Eric Reeves [December 3, 2001]
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063
413-585-3326
ereeves@smith.edu
Without immediate and consequential pressure on Senator Lott, the Sudan Peace Act will not move any closer to passage. Given the urgency of the situation in Sudan, and the long history of this bill (it was first introduced in the Senate in July of 1999), delay in allowing for a House-Senate conference on the Sudan Peace Act is simply inexcusable.
If you believe that the Sudan Peace Act should move forward immediately, if you believe that political delays of this measure are grossly inappropriate under the circumstances, write to or call Senator Lott as soon as possible:
Senator Trent Lott, Senate Minority Leader
487 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2403
Email: senatorlott@lott.senate.gov
Phone: 202-224-6253
Fax: 202-224-2262
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[Sample letter]
[date]
Senator Trent Lott, Senate Minority Leader
487 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2403
Dear Senator Lott,
I cannot understand why the Senate Republican leadership prevents the Sudan Peace Act from going forward to a House-Senate conference committee. Sudan’s ongoing catastrophe must not be held hostage to legislative delaying tactics; it must be debated on its merits, and a reconciled bill must be sent as soon as possible to President Bush. The House has given unanimous consent to a conferencing motion, and has already named a slate of conferees. Senate Democrats have requested similar unanimous consent in the Senate, but this was objected to in your name (this past Thursday [Nov 29], according to the Congressional Record and reporting by “Congressional Quarterly”).
Each day that now passes is another day in which the potential benefits of the Sudan Peace Act are denied the people of Sudan—denied because the Republican leadership in the Senate refuses to allow this bill to go forward.
I urge you in the name of the terrible human suffering and destruction in Sudan to allow the Sudan Peace Act to move to conference.
Sincerely,