Once again, poor Congolese women and children are the causalities of war. But this time, it is war between the Democrats and Republicans in the US Senate.
The Dodd-Frank act passed last year contained the Congo Conflict-Minerals legislation in its Miscelleanous Provisions (Title XV, Section 1502). The UN committee charged with overseeing conflict minerals issues reported that this legislation was a "catalyst" for efforts to save lives by cutting off a key source of funding for armed groups.
Please let your Senators know how you feel about the Congolese women and children.
SEN. RON JOHNSON, R-WIS.: The thing that would really get our economy going again is if we would repeal the entire Obama agenda -- I mean, "Obamacare," Dodd-Frank, all the regulations that he is shackling our economy with! That's what's keeping our economy from moving forward!
Disclosures on Conflict Materials in or Near the Democratic Republic of the Congo (source: Wikipedia)
- The SEC is mandated to create rules that address potential conflict materials (e.g. blood diamonds) and to assess whether materials originating in or near the Democratic Republic of the Congo are benefiting armed groups in the area.[209]
- The Secretary of State and Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development are required to develop a strategy to address the linkages between human rights abuses, armed groups, mining of conflict minerals, and commercial products, and promoted peace and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[209]
- An industry group has complained that the legislation goes beyond voluntary industry initiative such as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.[210][211]
- The United Nations Security Council committee charged with overseeing conflict minerals issues reported that this legislation was a "catalyst" for efforts to save lives by cutting off a key source of funding for armed groups.[212]
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