Sam Brownback: “as Senator Corzine spends his final days representing the people of New Jersey in the Senate, I wish to spend a few…”

“as Senator Corzine spends his final days representing the people of New Jersey in the Senate, I wish to spend a few moments speaking about his commitment to human rights and the pressing crisis of genocide in Darfur, Sudan. I have worked on the issue of war and humanitarian disaster in Sudan for several years. But nearly 2 years ago, as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Sudan was in its final negotiations, we became aware of the unfolding crisis in Sudan's western region of Darfur. It was Senator Corzine who came to me to work together and champion this issue. We joined each other on the Senate floor in countless speeches showing photos of the anguish in Darfur. We joined each other in seeing the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act through the Senate. We joined each other to secure funding for the security and humanitarian needs of the people. I have had the opportunity to work with many Members across party lines on human rights and humanitarian issues. I remember partnering with Paul Wellstone on the Trafficking Victims' Protection Act. Some called us strange bedfellows since we were at opposite ends of the political spectrum. But I have learned an important lesson: these issues are sufficiently urgent that ideological and partisan differences should not be allowed to impede cooperation, especially where lives and basic freedoms are at stake. And such has been true in the case of Darfur.…”