November 20, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10773 

down Broad Street they so well deserve. Philadelphia sports fans have 

consistently demonstrated their love 

for and devotion to Philadelphia teams, 

even after 25 years without winning a 

major sports championship. While we 

have a reputation of being somewhat 

rough around the edges, Philadelphia 

fans are enthusiastic about sports and 

fiercely loyal to our teams. We also 

have a reputation for not resting on 

our laurels and demanding a lot from 

those players and coaches privileged to 

wear our teams’ uniforms. I therefore 

urge my Phillies to keep fighting and 

bring home another title next year. 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the resolution 

be agreed to, the preamble be agreed 

to, and the motions, to reconsider be 

laid upon the table. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 712) was 

agreed to. 

The preamble was agreed to. 

The resolution, with its preamble, 

reads as follows: 

S. RES. 712 

Whereas, on October 29, 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 

to win the 2008 World Series; 

Whereas the 4 to 3 Phillies victory in Game 

5 of the Fall Classic secured for Philadelphia 

a World Series title for the first time since 

1980, and for the second time in team history; 

Whereas the Tampa Bay Rays deserve congratulations for a stellar 2008 season, in 

which, after 10 consecutive losing seasons, 

they posted a regular season record of 97–65 

and won the American League Championship 

Series; 

Whereas Tampa Bay Rays Manager and 

Hazelton, Pennsylvania-native Joe Maddon 

established himself as among the premier 

managers in Major League Baseball during 

the 2008 season, and aptly was named American League Manager of the Year; 

Whereas Philadelphia sports fans have consistently demonstrated their love for, and 

devotion to, Philadelphia teams, even after 

25 years without winning a major sports 

championship; 

Whereas, since taking the helm as manager 

in 2005, Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel has 

guided the young Phillies team to become 

the best in Major League Baseball; 

Whereas recently retired General Manager 

Pat Gillick, who joined the Phillies in 2006, 

played an integral role in assembling the 

World Series-winning team; 

Whereas 24-year old pitcher Cole Hamels 

was named the Most Valuable Player for 

both the National League Championship Series and the World Series, with a 4–0 record 

and 1.80 Earned Run Average in the post-season; 

Whereas starting pitchers Cole Hamels, 

Brett Myers, Joe Blanton, and Souderton, 

Pennsylvania-native Jamie Moyer delivered 

outstanding performances throughout the 

post-season; 

Whereas the Phillies’ bullpen distinguished 

itself as among the greatest in Major League 

Baseball, particularly closer Brad Lidge, who 

finished the 2008 season with 48 out of 48 save 

opportunities, including the final game of 

the World Series; 

Whereas the Phillies were led by a talented 

and tough group of players including: 2006 

MVP Ryan Howard; All-Star Chase Utley; 

2007 MVP and 2007 and 2008 Gold Glove winner Jimmy Rollins; third baseman Pedro 

Feliz; veteran outfielder Pat Burrell; 2008 

Gold Glove winner, the ‘‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’’, 

Shane Victorino; outfielder Jayson Werth; 

and catcher Carlos Ruiz; 

Whereas numerous reserve players made 

significant contributions to the Phillies’ 

World Series title run, including Geoff Jenkins, Chris Coste, Eric Bruntlett, Greg 

Dobbs, and Matt Stairs; and 

Whereas more than 1,000,000 fans packed 

the streets of Philadelphia on October 31, 

2008 for a parade along Market and Broad 

Streets ending at Citizens Bank Park; 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) congratulates— 

(A) the Philadelphia Phillies for winning 

the 2008 World Series; 

(B) the Phillies manager, coaches, and support staff, whose commitment to the Phillies 

franchise has sustained this proud organization and allowed the team to reach the pinnacle of success in 2008; 

(C) all Phillies fans, whose tenacity, perseverance, and enthusiasm are matched only 

by that of the team to which the fans are 

dedicated; and 

(D) the Tampa Bay Rays on an outstanding 

2008 season; and 

(2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to 

transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution 

to— 

(A) Phillies manager Charlie Manuel; 

(B) Phillies general manager Ruben 

Amaro, Jr.; 

(E) Phillies advisor Pat Gillick. 

f 

CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE AND 

LASTING SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the Senate 

proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 713, which was introduced earlier today. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the resolution by 

title. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A resolution (S. Res. 713) calling on all parties to the escalating violence in the eastern 

Democratic Republic of Congo to implement 

an immediate ceasefire and work with the 

support of the international community toward a comprehensive and lasting solution 

to this crisis. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the resolution. 

Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I wish 

to express my deep concern about the 

rapidly deteriorating situation in the 

eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over recent weeks, 

eastern Congo has been making international headlines since new fighting 

broke out between the Congolese military and rebels loyal to General 

Laurent Nkunda. The rebels overran 

several government military bases and 

major towns as they surrounded the 

strategic city of Goma. Meanwhile, the 

Congolese military—a feckless force 

that often rapes and pillages the very 

people it is meant to protect—retreated, leaving UN peacekeepers to 

fend off the rebels’ advance and attempt to protect civilians. Fortunately, the rebels stopped before 

marching on Goma, but the situation 

remains extremely volatile. 

I traveled last year to the very region, North Kivu Province, where this 

violence is taking place and saw firsthand the grave suffering of people who 

have lived through a decade of conflict 

and humanitarian crisis. The numbers 

are staggering: an estimated 5.4 million 

deaths over the last decade and 1,500 

people still dying each day. In addition, 

millions have been displaced from their 

homes, living in squalid camps where 

children are subject to forced recruitment and women suffer unspeakable 

levels of sexual violence. 

In my travels to many parts of Africa 

over the years, the suffering of women 

and girls in eastern Congo particularly 

stands out. I met with women and girls 

who had been gang raped, often leaving 

them with irreparable physical and 

psychological damage. I met with 

women who had lost their husbands, 

their homes, and their livelihoods and 

yet against all odds they refused to 

give up—if only for the sake of their 

children. There may be no worse place 

to be female than eastern Congo. And 

yet it is the strength of these women 

that continues to give hope. 

The renewed fighting in eastern 

Congo is worrisome not only because it 

will further exacerbate this humanitarian tragedy, but also because it 

risks engulfing the neighboring countries in a new regional war. Last 

month, the Congolese Government accused Rwanda of sending troops across 

the border in support of Nkunda’s 

forces. The rebels in turn have recently 

alleged that Angolan and even 

Zimbabwean troops are supporting the 

Congolese military. Despite vows by 

these governments to avoid another regional conflict, tensions remain high. 

It is not hard to imagine a minor incident sparking a repeat of 1998 when at 

least six neighboring countries were 

drawn into Congo’s war. 

Such a scenario would destabilize the 

Great Lakes region of Africa. Over recent years, the United States and our 

international partners have made significant investments—both financial 

and diplomatic—to assist in consolidating peace and restoring the rule of 

law in this region. No one wants to see 

those investments lost and the 

progress made reversed, and we may 

not have to. If we take bold and strategic action now, we can prevent a new 

regional conflict and revive the peace 

process in eastern Congo. 

I was pleased that our top diplomat 

for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, traveled to 

the region with high-level diplomats 

from the UK and France 2 weeks ago. 

In addition, UN Secretary General Ban 

Ki-Moon convened an emergency summit of regional leaders in Nairobi. But 

this diplomatic engagement must remain consistent and get all key actors, 

including Rwanda, to commit to a 

clear roadmap for implementing the already signed peace agreements. To be 

successful, we must also establish monitoring and verification mechanisms to 

hold the parties accountable and challenge the continued culture of impunity. 


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S10774 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 20, 2008 

At the same time, while achieving a 

political solution is vital to ending the 

crisis in eastern Congo, the international community should also take 

measures to help protect civilians and 

enforce a ceasefire in the short term. 

The UN Secretary General has called 

for an additional 3,000 troops and police 

specially trained and equipped for 

rapid response to reinforce the peacekeeping force in Congo, known by its 

French acronym MONUC. The United 

States and other Security Council 

members should act immediately to 

fulfill those requests. In addition, the 

Security Council should clarify 

MONUC’s mandate to prioritize civilian protection and conflict prevention 

in the east and ensure it is implemented equally by all brigades. A renewed MONUC will not only save lives, 

but can also deter military involvement from neighboring countries. 

Ultimately though, lasting peace in 

eastern Congo and the wider region 

will require measures to transform the 

underlying causes of conflict. The continued exploitation of Congo’s rich 

mineral base, particularly cassiterite, 

coltan, and gold, makes war a profitable enterprise. The international community should work with governments 

in the region to bring greater transparency and regulation to the trade in 

these minerals. The next administration and Congress must look seriously 

at how the United States can contribute meaningfully to this process as 

it is a critical step toward the larger 

goal of reforming Congo’s economic 

and political institutions. 

Congo has vast potential and its stability can have a positive impact 

across Africa. We have made notable 

progress in that direction over recent 

years, but we are once again standing 

at a precipice. In the face of a potential 

regional war, we can no longer rely on 

piecemeal tactics and half-measures. It 

is time for a comprehensive and concerted international effort to ensure 

protection and basic rights for all Congo’s people. It is for that reason that 

I am today introducing a resolution 

calling for an immediate ceasefire in 

eastern Congo and a comprehensive solution to this crisis. I am pleased to introduce this resolution with the distinguished senior Senator from Kansas, 

who has long been a champion on this 

issue, and I hope our colleagues will 

join us in this urgent plea for peace. 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the resolution 

be agreed to, the preamble be agreed 

to, and the motions to reconsider be 

laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any 

statements related to the measure be 

printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 713) was 

agreed to. 

The preamble was agreed to. 

The resolution, with its preamble, 

reads as follows: 

S. RES. 713 

Whereas the Democratic Republic of Congo 

was devastated by civil wars lasting from 

1996 to 1997 and 1998 to 2003, spawning some 

of the world’s worst human rights violations 

and involving at least 6 neighboring countries; 

Whereas, despite the signing of a peace 

agreement and subsequent withdrawal of foreign forces in 2003, eastern Congo has continued to suffer from high levels of poverty, insecurity, and absent or inadequate institutions, allowing armed and criminal groups to 

operate freely; 

Whereas continuing abuses committed by 

the national military against civilians in 

Congo and apparent ties between the military and armed groups in the region have 

tainted attempts to restore the rule of law in 

the eastern region of the country; 

Whereas, according to a study by the International Rescue Committee released in January 2008, the conflict and related humanitarian crises in the Democratic Republic of 

Congo have taken the lives of an estimated 

5,400,000 people since 1998 and continue to 

cause as many as 45,000 deaths each month; 

Whereas sexual violence and rape remain a 

pervasive tool of warfare used by all parties 

in eastern Congo to terrorize communities, 

affecting hundreds of thousands of women 

and girls and frequently resulting in traumatic fistula and other severe genital injuries; 

Whereas the continued plunder and trade 

of eastern Congo’s rich mineral base, notably 

cassiterite, coltan, and gold, by armed 

groups and members of the national military 

make war profitable and undermine peace efforts; 

Whereas the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed 

the Nairobi Communique ́ in November 2007, 

committing to work together to address the 

continued activity of the Democratic Forces 

for the Liberation of Rwanda and other 

armed groups operating in their shared border region; 

Whereas, on January 23, 2008, with the active support of the international community, 

the Government of the Democratic Republic 

of Congo, and 22 armed groups in the eastern 

region signed the Goma accord, committing 

to an immediate ceasefire and buffer zones 

for troop disengagement and ultimately disarmament; 

Whereas these agreements together provided the first working framework in years 

for peace and lasting stability in eastern 

Congo, but a continued culture of impunity 

and suspicion has impeded their implementation; 

Whereas the United Nations reported more 

than 200 violations of these agreements between January and July of 2008, as well as 

2,000 cases of rape and hundreds of people 

killed; 

Whereas hate speech inciting ethnic violence by local and national leaders in Congo 

continued during this period, feeding the 

concerns and perceived insecurity of minority Tutsi communities; 

Whereas, since August 28, 2008, fighting has 

resumed in North Kivu Province between the 

national military and the forces of General 

Laurent Nkunda, known as the National 

Congress for the Defense of the People, the 

latter of which has taken control of several 

government military bases and major towns 

around the city of Goma; 

Whereas, according to Human Rights 

Watch, an estimated 250,000 people have been 

forced to flee their homes as a result of this 

renewed fighting in eastern Congo, often 

without access to shelter, water, food, and 

medicine, and adding to the over 1,000,000 

people already displaced from North and 

South Kivu; 

Whereas the United Nations Mission in 

Congo, known by its French acronym 

MONUC, has proven unable to protect civilians in light of this new offensive by General 

Nkunda’s forces, causing resentment and 

protests by local communities; 

Whereas allegations of troops from Angola, 

Rwanda, and Zimbabwe crossing into eastern 

Congo have strained existing regional tensions and increased fears of a wider war that 

could draw other countries from the region 

into the fighting, as happened in 1998; 

Whereas the United Nations’ Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the 

Democratic Republic of Congo, Alan Doss, 

and United Nations Secretary-General Ban 

Ki-moon have called for more troops and better capabilities for MONUC to stop the rebel 

offensive and protect civilians; 

Whereas United Nations Secretary-General 

Ban Ki-moon traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, on 

November 7, 2008, and convened a summit of 

regional leaders, including the heads of state 

of the Democratic Republic of Congo and 

Rwanda, which led to a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and the creation of humanitarian corridors; and 

Whereas, in 2006, Congress passed the 

Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 

2006, which was signed into law by President 

George W. Bush on December 22, 2006 (Public 

Law 109–456), stating that it is the policy of 

the United States to work for peace and security throughout the Democratic Republic 

of Congo by supporting efforts to protect civilians, to disarm illegal armed groups, and 

to hold accountable individuals, entities, and 

countries working to destabilize the country: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) condemns the continuing violence, forcible recruitment of children as soldiers, and 

abuses against civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; 

(2) calls on the national military in Congo, 

the National Congress for the Defense of the 

People, and all armed groups operating in 

eastern Congo to cease hostilities, end all 

human rights abuses, and respect an immediate ceasefire based on the principles of the 

Goma agreement; 

(3) calls on the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to meet its obligations under the Lusaka Agreement of 1999, 

the Pretoria Agreement of 2002, and the 

Nairobi Communique ́ of 2007 to take action 

to end the threat posed by the Democratic 

Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda; 

(4) calls on the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda— 

(A) to fully restore bilateral relations; 

(B) to work together to mitigate escalating 

tensions in the region; and 

(C) to break any ties that still exist between them and illegal armed groups in eastern Congo; 

(5) calls on all governments in the Great 

Lakes region of Africa and those of the 

Southern African Development Community 

to support a peaceful resolution to the crisis 

while ensuring that the volatile situation 

does not spark a wider regional war; 

(6) supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General, his newly appointed 

United Nations Special Envoy, former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, and the 

international facilitation team to bring all 

parties to the negotiating table and establish 

a clear roadmap to implement the signed 

peace agreements; 

(7) encourages the international community to take immediate measures to enhance 

the effectiveness of the United Nations Mission in Congo to protect civilians, specifically through increased troops and additional capabilities as requested by the Secretary-General; 


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November 20, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10775 

(8) urges the President to sustain highlevel diplomatic engagement together with 

the African Union, the European Union, and 

the United Nations to avert a wider regional 

war and revive a comprehensive peace process in eastern Congo; 

(9) urges the United States and the international community to develop and support 

monitoring and verification mechanisms 

that can hold the parties in Congo accountable to the signed peace agreements, investigate alleged ceasefire violations, and ultimately challenge the continued culture of 

impunity in Congo; and 

(10) urges the President and the international community to adopt measures to 

help the regional governments to identify 

and ultimately address the factors underlying the conflict in eastern Congo, especially weak governance and the exploitation 

of the region’s lucrative minerals. 

f 

HONORING THE FIREFIGHTERS 

AND EMERGENCY WORKERS IN 

CALIFORNIA IN 2008 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the Senate 

proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 714, which was submitted earlier today by Senator BOXER. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the resolution by 

title. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A resolution (S. Res. 714) honoring the firefighters and emergency workers who courageously fought fires in California in 2008. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the resolution. 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the resolution 

be agreed to, the preamble be agreed 

to, the motions to reconsider be laid 

upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related to the resolution be 

printed in the RECORD at the appropriate place as if read. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 714) was 

agreed to. 

The preamble was agreed to. 

The resolution, with its preamble, 

reads as follows: 

S. RES. 714 

Whereas, in 2008, there have been more 

than 10,000 wildfires in California started by 

natural causes and human activity; 

Whereas more than 1,440,000 acres of Federal, State, and local land in California 

burned in 2008; 

Whereas, in June 2008, fires started by 

lightning strikes burned approximately 

1,200,000 acres of Federal, State, and local 

land in California, making the June fires the 

largest single wildfire event in California’s 

recorded history; 

Whereas 41 counties across California were 

impacted by wildfires in 2008; 

Whereas more than 1,400 homes were destroyed by fires in California in 2008; 

Whereas State and local firefighters have 

been called to duty for increasingly long fire 

seasons, working on the front lines of these 

fires for weeks; 

Whereas firefighters have risked their lives 

and endured great hardship to protect lives, 

property, and the environment in California; 

Whereas many firefighters were injured 

and 14 firefighters tragically lost their lives 

in California in 2008; 

Whereas 25,000 firefighters and emergency 

response personnel from California, 41 other 

States, and other nations worked side-byside to fight the wildfires; 

Whereas members of the National Guard 

from California and other States provided essential support to the firefighting effort; and 

Whereas the people of California and the 

United States recognize the steadfast dedication of the firefighters throughout the ongoing fire suppression and subsequent repair 

and rebuilding efforts: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) commends the firefighters and emergency workers from California, 41 other 

States, and other nations for their courageous actions and sacrifices in fighting 

wildfires in California; 

(2) supports the continued work of firefighters to protect National Forest System 

land, other public lands, and private property from further damage; 

(3) praises the people of California for their 

great courage in the face of the fires; and 

(4) extends heartfelt sympathy to the people who have lost loved ones, homes, and 

businesses in the wildfires. 

f 

SENATE NATIONAL SECURITY 

WORKING GROUP 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the Senate 

proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 715, submitted earlier 

today. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the resolution by 

title. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A resolution (S. Res. 715) extending the authority for the Senate National Security 

Working Group. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the resolution. 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the resolution 

be agreed to, the motion to reconsider 

be laid upon the table, and that any 

statements relating to the resolutione 

be printed in the RECORD, without further intervening action or debate. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 715) was 

agreed to, as follows: 

S. RES. 715 

Resolved, That Senate Resolution 105 of the 

One Hundred First Congress, 1st session 

(agreed to on April 13, 1989), as amended by 

Senate Resolution 149 of the One Hundred 

Third Congress, 1st session (agreed to on October 5, 1993), as further amended by Senate 

Resolution 75 of the One Hundred Sixth Congress, 1st session (agreed to on March 25, 

1999), as further amended by Senate Resolution 383 of the One Hundred Sixth Congress, 

2d session (agreed to on October 27, 2000), as 

further amended by Senate Resolution 355 of 

the One Hundred Seventh Congress, 2d session (agreed to on November 13, 2002), as further amended by Senate Resolution 480 of 

the One Hundred Eighth Congress, 2d session 

(agreed to November 20, 2004), and as further 

amended by Senate Resolution 625 of the One 

Hundred Ninth Congress, 2d Session (agreed 

to on December 6, 2006), is further amended 

in section 4 by striking ‘‘2008’’ and inserting 

‘‘2010’’. 

REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY—TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 

110–23 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, as in 

executive session, I ask unanimous 

consent that the injunction of secrecy 

be removed from the following treaty 

transmitted to the Senate on November 20, 2008, by the President of the 

United States: Investment Treaty with 

Rwanda, Treaty Document No. 110–23. I 

further ask unanimous consent that 

the treaty be considered as having been 

read the first time; that it be referred, 

with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the President’s message be printed in the 

RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The message of the President is as 

follows: 

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit herewith, with a view to 

receiving the advice and consent of the 

Senate to ratification, the Treaty between the Government of the United 

States of America and the Government 

of the Republic of Rwanda Concerning 

the Encouragement and Reciprocal 

Protection of Investment, signed at 

Kigali on February 19, 2008. I transmit 

also, for the information of the Senate, 

the report prepared by the Department 

of State with respect to the Treaty. 

This is the first bilateral investment 

treaty (BIT) concluded between the 

United States and a sub-Saharan African country since 1998. The Treaty will 

help to promote cross-border investment by providing legal protections for 

investors of each country for their investments in the other country. The 

Treaty underscores the shared commitment of both countries to open investment and trade policies. 

Rwanda has opened its economy, improved its business climate, and embraced trade and investment as a 

means to boost economic development 

and help alleviate poverty. The U.S.- 

Rwanda BIT will reinforce these efforts. 

The Treaty is fully consistent with 

U.S. policy to secure protections for 

U.S. investment abroad and to welcome 

foreign investment in the United 

States. Under this Treaty, the Parties 

agree to accord national treatment and 

most-favored nation treatment to investments. They also agree to customary international law standards for 

expropriation and for the minimum 

standard of treatment. The Treaty includes detailed provisions regarding 

the payment of prompt, adequate, and 

effective compensation in the event of 

expropriation; free transfer of funds related to investment; freedom of investment from specified performance requirements; prohibitions on nationality based restrictions for the hiring 

of senior managers; and the opportunity for investors to resolve disputes 

with a host government through international arbitration. The Treaty also 


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