akai. >> mr. chairman, may i just say before jacob speaks, i'm going to have to leave to go to an energy and water mark-up, of which i'm one of the ranking members. i'm so grateful. but i'm so grateful for jacob for telling his story. i thank this committee again. i want to mention resolve, as well, which is one of the nonprofits that's been working. they're here in washington with invisible children. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you so much, senator landrieu, for joining us today. jacob, mr. akai, if you'd like to offer your testimony today. >> thank you so much, mr. chairman. on behalf of the survivors and those who are still going through the hardship in central african republic, congo, and sudan, i want to testify and share my story in a struggle for bringing this war which has lasted for more than two decades to an end. being someone who was born through the war, i went through a lot. some were directly to my life and some indirectly. when i say indirectly, it touched many of my friends,

jacob akai. joe lee? >> thank you so much, mr. chairman. i would like to appreciate so much the big efforts that you have put to make sure this war come to an end. it has been going on for 26 years. i want to thank senator isakson. when i met you in gulu, i was also touched to see that. and i want to thank mary for the passion you have to ensure that the children who are still suffering at the hands of joseph coney get rescued and also get a second chance like the way i am right now. and i want to thank the u.s. government so much for being involved and putting this agenda on top of all the other issues that they have. it means a lot to ask. that has shown that there is a lot of love for the people, especially the people of northern uganda, central african republic, and democratic republic of congo. i want to share my personal story that i grew up in northern uganda, and from day one, when this war started i saw it as it transitioned to what is now called the lra. and i lost my teenage to this war. i couldn't finish it up, because i got inv