THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY KRIEGER, YOUNGBLOOD, SAYLOR, DiGIROLAMO, KAUFFMAN, HENNESSEY, SCHRODER, REESE, JOHNSON, BAKER, SIPTROTH, MILLARD, PAYTON, OBERLANDER, CAUSER, DENLINGER, MILLER, MARKOSEK, RAPP, CUTLER, MUNDY, CREIGHTON, BEYER, QUINN, FLECK, HELM, SANTARSIERO, GEORGE, SWANGER, GABLER, CLYMER, VULAKOVICH, BISHOP, TALLMAN, MOUL, SAMUELSON, GRUCELA, CALTAGIRONE, MUSTIO, TRUE, READSHAW, WATERS, GINGRICH, COHEN, SCAVELLO, McGEEHAN, JOSEPHS, ROEBUCK, GROVE, MAHONEY, FRANKEL, REICHLEY, D. COSTA, BELFANTI, O'NEILL, EVERETT, MANDERINO, PARKER, MAJOR, ROSS, HARHART, ROHRER, GEIST, MURT AND DAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, DECEMBER 4, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the Lost Boys of Sudan for their tireless courage and

pioneering efforts in raising awareness and working toward

ending 21st Century slavery in their homeland of Sudan and

around the world.

WHEREAS, The Lost Boys of Sudan were forced to flee their

homes as children after the murder of their parents, the

destruction of their villages and the capture and sale of

relatives and siblings into slavery by government and other

Islamic forces from Northern Sudan; and

WHEREAS, The Lost Boys were forced to walk thousands of miles

to reach safety in refugee camps, first in Ethiopia and then

later in Kenya; and

WHEREAS, Many of the Lost Boys, some as young as five years

of age and none older than 13 years of age, were either killed

on their trek to freedom by hostile armed forces, lions or

crocodiles or perished from starvation; and

WHEREAS, Only 10,000 of the estimated original 30,000 Lost

Boys of Sudan survived the death-defying pilgrimage to freedom;

and

WHEREAS, Many of the Lost Boys of Sudan were granted

permission to immigrate to the United States where they have

obtained jobs and educations and have become productive members

of American society; and

WHEREAS, Despite their successful integration in the United

States, the Lost Boys of Sudan continue their efforts to assist

their people still struggling to survive in Southern Sudan; and

WHEREAS, The Lost Boys of Sudan have in particular devoted

themselves to fighting the ongoing evil of the slave trade,

which continues to be widespread in Southern Sudan; and

WHEREAS, To continue these efforts, the Lost Boys of Sudan

have joined together to establish a nonprofit group, known as

Lost Boys Rebuilding Southern Sudan, which has helped to

transform the lives of thousands of Lost Boys; and

WHEREAS, Lost Boys Rebuilding Southern Sudan continues the

fight to suppress and end slavery in Southern Sudan and the Horn

of Africa; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the Lost

Boys of Sudan for their tireless courage and pioneering efforts

in raising awareness and working toward ending 21st Century

slavery in their homeland of Sudan and around the world.