The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has rejected a proposal submitted by Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal as part of amendments to H.R.5300, known as the “Department of State Policies Act.” The amendment sought to compel the U.S. administration to use its influence at the United Nations and other multilateral organizations to take steps that would delegitimize the current Sudanese government.
The proposal, which sparked widespread debate among observers and those following Sudanese affairs, was not included in the committee’s final list of amendments, and no vote was recorded in its favor. This effectively nullifies the amendment, leaving the bill to proceed through the legislative process without Jayapal’s provision.
Pramila Jayapal is considered one of the most prominent progressive voices in the Democratic Party, often advocating for rights-based approaches in foreign policy. In this case, she focused on Sudan, where the army and Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in a conflict since April 2023, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and more than 13 million displaced persons and refugees, making it one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Observers noted that Jayapal’s proposal carried highly sensitive political implications, as delegitimizing the Sudanese government through a UN framework would move beyond condemnation to potentially altering Sudan’s legal and political status internationally.
The decision comes at a time when the UN Security Council and the United Nations remain divided over handling the Sudanese conflict, with major powers failing to agree on a binding resolution to halt the fighting or impose effective sanctions on the warring parties. Attempts to include the amendment in U.S. legislation were seen as a potential signal of Washington escalating its stance toward Khartoum. Its rejection, however, reflects lawmakers’ hesitation to take a step that could complicate regional and diplomatic balances.
The dismissal of Jayapal’s amendment represents a setback for progressives in Congress seeking a firmer agenda against the Sudanese government, while highlighting that U.S. policy toward Sudan remains cautious, balancing human rights calls with geopolitical considerations. Consequently, the “Department of State Policies Act” continues along its legislative path without substantive changes regarding Sudan.
