Government Relations
WHAT DOES THE CONGO CONFLICT MINERALS ACT DO?
Introduced by Senators Brownback (R-KS), Durbin (D-IL), and Feingold (D-WI), the "Congo Conflict Minerals Act of 2009" (S. 891) will bring the resources of the U.S. government to bear on a critical economic driver of conflict in eastern Congo: the demand for minerals used in everyday electronics products that finances armed groups who commit horrific atrocities. If passed, this bill would provide the authority and direction for the United States government to help ensure that the mineral trade stops contributing to human rights violations, including killings of unarmed civilians and sexual violence, while at the same time developing mechanisms to allow the Congolese people to benefit from these resources. In a further positive direction, the bill demands greater transparency and accountability from companies: all companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges - including major electronics companies which are among the largest end-buyers of some of these minerals would have to disclose the origin of their supplies to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For those minerals coming from Congo or neighboring countries, companies would need to disclose the precise mine of origin.
Although the bill does not include a requirement that companies submit independent audits of their supply chains, as the Enough Project has consistently called for, this bill is a valuable first step toward greater transparency.
Click here to read statements on Democratic Republic of Congo from Members of Congress.
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Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) Click here to contact Senator Sessions and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-4124. |
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Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) Click here to contact Senator Shelby and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-5744. |
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Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) Cosponsor: |
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Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) Click here to contact Senator Murkowski and urge her to cosponsor the legislation, or call her office at (202) 224-6665. |
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Senator John Kyl (R-Arizona) Click here to contact Senator Kyl and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-4521. |
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Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) Click here to contact Senator McCain and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-2235. |
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Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) Click here to contact Senator Lincoln and urge her to cosponsor the legislation, or call her office at (202) 224-4843. |
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Senator Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas) Click here to contact Senator Pryor and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-2353. |
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Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) Cosponsor: |
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Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) Click here to contact Senator Feinstein and urge her to cosponsor the legislation, or call her office at (202) 224-3841. |
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Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) Click here to contact Senator Bennet and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-5852. |
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Senator Mark Udall (D-Colorado) Click here to contact Senator Udall and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-5941. |
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Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) Click here to contact Senator Dodd and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-2823. |
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Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) Click here to contact Senator Lieberman and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-4041. |
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Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware) Click here to contact Senator Carper and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-2441. |
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Senator Ted Kaufman (D-Delaware) Click here to contact Senator Kaufman and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-5042. |
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Senator George LeMieux (R-Florida) Click here to contact Senator LeMieux and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-3041. |
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Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) Click here to contact Senator Nelson and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-5274. |
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Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia) Click here to contact Senator Chambliss and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-3521. |
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Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia) Click here to contact Senator Isakson and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-3643. |
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Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) Click here to contact Senator Akaka and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-6361. |
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Senator Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii) Click here to contact Senator Inouye and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-3934. |
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Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) Click here to contact Senator Crapo and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-6142. |
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Senator James Risch (R-Idaho) Click here to contact Senator Risch and urge him to cosponsor the legislation, or call his office at (202) 224-2752. |
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Senator Roland Burris (D-Illionois) Cosponsor: |
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