Record number of Senators write to Secretary Clinton to express concern over LRA violence

An unprecedented number of Senators have signed onto a letter to Secretary Clinton drafted by Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) to express their concern over ongoing violence being committed by the LRA and to inquire as to the US's plans (if any) to help bring an end to the conflict now affecting four countries.

"We believe we have a responsibility to help see this rebel war to its end," wrote the Senators. "U.S. leadership on this issue has the potential to help protect hundreds of thousands of civilians from further violence and to advance our country's core interests in stability and development for this troubled region of Africa." To read the full text of the letter, click here.

23 Senators from both sides of the aisle signed their name to the letter, including both the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate's Committee on Africa, a signal to the Obama Administration that leading policymakers on Capitol Hill are taking this issue seriously and that the desire to help the families trapped by this violence transcends party lines.

Participants at last week's How It Ends Lobby Day took their desire for more action from the US Government on this crisis straight to the offices of their elected officials, specifically requesting that they sign onto this letter. The fact that more Senators than ever before added their name to a letter like this is a sure sign that constituent pressure not only works, it works quickly.

A complimentary letter is still circulating through the House of Representatives and Members will have until next Friday to add their name to that.

Here's a list of Senators who signed on to the letter to Secretary Clinton:

Sam Brownback (KS), Russell D. Feingold (WI), Johnny Isakson (GA), James M. Inhofe (OK), Barbara Boxer (CA), Maria Cantwell (WA), Christopher S. Bond (MO), Joe Lieberman (CT), Blanche Lincoln (AR), Mary Landrieu (LA), Jeff Bingaman (NM), Michael Enzi (WY), Ted Kaufman (DE), Olympia Snowe (ME), Ted Kennedy (MA), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Ron Wyden (OR), Roland W. Burris (IL), Benjamin L. Cardin (MD), Mark Udall (CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ), Kay Hagan (NC)