Urge Your Representative to Cosponsor the Conflict Minerals Trade Act
The Conflict Minerals Trade Act of 2009, H.R. 4128, introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington), would help develop the means to ensure that the multimillion dollar trade in minerals from eastern Congo stops financing deadly conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries.
Raise Hope for Congo reports that: "The trade in Congo’s conflict minerals, namely tin, tantalite, tungsten and gold, which are used in electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops, is a major source of funding for armed groups in eastern Congo who commit atrocities against civilians. If passed, this bill would create a system of audits and import declarations that would distinguish those goods imported into the United States that contain conflict minerals. The resulting transparency would be an important step forward in helping break the links between the mineral trade and human rights violations in Congo."
Call or write your Representative and urge him/her to cosponsor the Conflict Minerals Trade Act HR 4128. Email your Representative. Call U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office.
Of course this legislation (and other legislation in the United States) alone will not end the conflict in eastern Congo. But, if enacted, this bill would be a crucial step toward creating an enforceable means to ensure that the trade in Congolese minerals contributes not to war, but to peace. U.S. legislation could also serve as a model for legislation in other countries.