Patrick Leahy: “This amendment addresses the humanitarian crisis in Liberia. This is a bipartisan amendment, supported by Senators…”

“This amendment addresses the humanitarian crisis in Liberia. This is a bipartisan amendment, supported by Senators Chafee, Coleman, Biden, Lieberman, Feingold, Reed, Lautenberg, and Landrieu. Anyone who has read a newspaper or watched CNN over the past couple of months knows about the tremendous suffering in Liberia today. Three-quarters of Liberians do not have access to safe drinking water. Three-quarters are living in poverty. Three-quarters do not have access to acceptable sanitation. Eighty-five percent of Liberians are unemployed. These numbers, provided by the U.N. are absolutely appalling. To me, this is more than enough reason to act. We have deep historical ties to its people. Presidents James Monroe and Andrew Jackson, along with some of the most notable Senators ever to serve in this body, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, helped create the nation of Liberia. Liberia's flag is nearly identical to our own. We have heard urgent pleas from the Liberian people for the U.S. to help. Archbishop Michael Francis of Monrovia, wrote a letter in support of this amendment. He wrote: [W]e are at a critical juncture where an intervention by the United States, renewing its leadership role, will greatly help to ensure the stabilization of Liberia. It is for this reason that your amendment to include $200 million in the FY 2004 Supplemental Appropriations bill to address relief and reconstruction needs in Liberia is timely and must be supported by the Senate body.”