Earl Blumenauer: “I appreciate the words of our Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) this morning when he talked about a day…”

“I appreciate the words of our Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) this morning when he talked about a day that would live in infamy, referencing December 7. I appreciate that we have an opportunity now to do something to make sure that this is not a day that lives in infamy, because today another tragic chapter is being written in Darfur in the horrifying history of genocide, which people on both sides of the aisle have condemned. Indeed, the violence appears to be getting worse and 500 people a day are dying. Somehow, the money for the United States for the peacekeepers for the African Union has disappeared from the Foreign Operation Conference Committee. This would be a tragedy, if we did not meet our obligation to provide at least 7,700 peacekeepers for an area the size of Texas. Every man and woman on the Hill today should do something to make sure that the Defense appropriation bill is not finally approved without meeting America's obligation to stop this genocide. ____________________”