Legislation Urging Kony, Other LRA be Brought to Justice Adopted by Foreign Affairs Committee

Statement

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs today unanimously passed H.Res. 583, expressing support for robust efforts by the United States to see Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, and his top commanders, brought to justice and to permanently end the group's atrocities. For a summary of all measures considered by the Committee today, please click here Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) is a co-sponsor of the legislation and issued the following statement in support:

"I am pleased that the Committee is considering H.Res. 583, expressing support for robust efforts by the United States to see Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, and his top commanders brought to justice and the group's atrocities permanently ended.

"I would like to thank Congressman Jim McGovern for introducing H.Res. 583, the over 70 bipartisan co-sponsors, and I want to especially thank all of the young student activists in my District and throughout the country for their continued and tireless efforts to raise awareness about Kony's atrocities.

"The death and destruction caused by Joseph Kony and his circle of thugs span decades, and it is time for his campaign of violence against innocent people to come to an end.

"The recent capture of Maj. Gen. Ceasar Acellum, shatters all belief that Joseph Kony and his commanders can operate with impunity.

"Joseph Kony and his LRA commanders have perpetrated some of the most evil human rights abuses of our time and they must be brought to justice and held accountable for their deplorable crimes.

"I am truly inspired by the involvement of so many student activists and their creative uses of social media like Twitter and Facebook to express outrage about and this horrible tragedy.

"H.Res. 583 echoes current law and continues the momentum ignited by so many young people across the country and I am pleased to support this resolution."

NOTE: The following bills and resolutions were also passed: H.R. 4405, The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act; H.Res. 506, calling for Turkey to reopen the Halki Seminary; H.R. 4141, The International Food Assistance Improvement Act; H.Res.526, supporting the sovereignty of Georgia and calling for a peaceful resolution to the Georgian conflict; and H.Res. 663, calling on the International Olympic Committee to recognize a minute of silence for Israeli athletes and others murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

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