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WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh passed a Conflict-Free City Resolution earlier this year regarding the use of the Congo's conflict minerals in consumer electronics; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh became the first city in the country to demonstrate its commitment to conflict-free minerals in consumer electronics; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh sent a powerful message to companies to clean up their supply chains to ensure their products are not fueling the conflict in the Congo; and
WHEREAS, while Public Law 109-456, The Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act was signed into law in 2006, the law has never been fully implemented; and
WHEREAS, Public Law 109-456 gives the Secretary of State the power to withhold U.S. Aid dollars from countries acting to destabilize the Congo, and evidence shows Rwanda is involved in military activity in the Eastern Congo, and yet Rwanda receives a great deal of aid from the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, Public Law 109-456 also requires the U.S. send a Special Envoy to the Eastern Congo; and
WHEREAS, the Special Envoy model would help bolster American diplomatic efforts in the region by providing detailed information directly from those on the ground in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, strengthen the U.S. government's ability to follow through with policy objectives for the Congo, and position the U.S. to more directly oversee the creation and implementation of a system to track mineral exports.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of Pittsburgh calls on City Governments across the country to support the full implementation of Public Law 109-456; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh asks other cities, states, and companies to divest their resources from rogue and destabilizing states; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh urges the federal government to fully implement Public Law 109...
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