SHALUPE USA – Maine/Massachusetts

We have some wonderful news to share! BILL S2125 passed!

November and December Highlights :

On Tuesday November 28th at 3pm Shalupe Founder Jeanne Kasongo Ngondo L., Edo Mokonzi (Director), Julie Heinz (Northeast Regional Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for CARE Action Network, and Ann Naimie (Shalupe Maine- Executive Director), thru the assistance of Kay Gerard (Senator Collins Scheduler), met with Maine Senator Susan Collins and her Legislative Assistant Sally Jurgeleit to discuss the future of S2125: (Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006) This was an extremely successful visit in which Senator Collins sought our advice and guidance with respect to the urgency of this matter and the means by which success of this historic event could be maximized. Our, initially 15 minutes meeting was extende to 30 minutes by Kay prior to our arrival. After our discussion began our meeting ran for 45 minutes.

This is reflexive of the Senators commitment to the Congo . while in session, Senator Collins instructed her Legislative Assistant Sally Jurgeleit to call Congressman Tom Allen's office and schedule a meeting for us. Immediately a meeting was scheduled for the very next day at 11am. Senator Collins is a Co-Sponsor of {S2125}.

On Wednesday November 29th at 11am met with Congressman Tom Allen and his Legislative Assistant Matthew Coffron to discuss the future of S2125. Congressman Allen after a short discussion immediately instructed his Assistant to get on the telephone and contact House Democratic Leadership to request placement of S2125 on the Suspension Calendar, the  Suspension Calendar was the only remaining governmental means of insuring that the S2125 could have any hope of realization this year. This bill was introduced by Senator Barack Obama, of the State of Illinois, on December 16, 2005.

On December 22 nd , 2006 a very important bill that CARE and its supporters worked hard to lobby was signed by President Bush into law!

The bill is called the Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006 (S.2125), “a bill to promote relief security and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ”.  For details on the bill, please see the email attached.

As an example of what a small group of dedicated citizens can do, I must share Maine 's contribution to this success. 

This bill was introduced to Senator Collins (R-ME) by a group of six Mainers who flew down for CARE's National Advocacy Conference ( www.care.org/advocacyconference ) in DC this past June.  Senator Collins later signed on as a co-sponsor of this bill… 

At a meeting CARE and Shalupe ( www.shalupe.org ) had with Senator Collins this November, she shared with us, personally, that the group of Mainers who attended the National Advocacy Conference inspired her to become a co-sponsor of this bill.   Her meeting with those advocates was the reason for her big commitment to this important issue and played a huge part in this bill passing into law!

This achievement was highlighted in the Portland Press Herald via the Letter to the Editor, below, on December 27 th ….

Collins, Allen thanked for supporting DR Congo

In the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in central Africa , an estimated 1.6 million people have been displaced.  More than 2 million children live on the streets, and some 4 million lives have been lost in this vast country half the size of the continental United States .

Sen. Susan Collins has our thanks for co-sponsoring S.2125, "A bill to promote relief, security and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ," introduced in December 2005 by Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois .  This inspiring bill is a statement of U.S. engagement with the DRC, as it welcomes newly elected President Joseph Kabila and strives to achieve lasting peace and reconstruction.

Several concerned Mainers brought S.2125, along with supplemental information about the DRC, to Sen. Collins' offices in Washington , D.C. , last June, while participating in CARE's National Advocacy Conference.  Sen. Collins responded with concern and dedication by becoming a co-sponsor.

We'd also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to U.S. Rep. Tom Allen for making time to discuss S.2125 with us and supporting the bill in the House.

In the spirit of bipartisanship, S.2125 passed during the final hours of the 109th Congress.

Thanks and congratulations on a heartfelt victory for hope and democracy.

Email: fondshalupe@yahoo.fr