Catholic Relief Services: Rejoice! One huge step forward for the Congolese people, others
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June 28, 2010
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Dear Chad,
Our brothers and sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who have been-and still are-oppressed by militias who illicitly exploit their country’s vast natural resources wealth, are rejoicing today. Poor and vulnerable people in other countries who are harmed by the irresponsible exploitation and distribution of the benefits from natural resources also have a reason to celebrate. Through sustained prayer, diligent awareness-raising, and persistent advocacy, we have collectively moved a huge step forward in shedding more light on how natural resources are benefiting-or harming-poor people in the DRC and in other countries, and holding companies more accountable for the impact their actions have on people.
Late last Thursday night, the House-Senate Conference Committee reconciling the financial reform bill approved its compromise report that included the Congo conflict minerals provisions we have been working so hard to advance. The provisions require companies that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to annually report whether the products they manufacture are “conflict free.” In principle this requirement will help reduce the demand of minerals that are illicitly mined and sold on the international market by armed groups operating in Congo.
Even more amazingly, the Conference Committee also included additional provisions that reach beyond Congo and require companies to disclose the payments they make to foreign governments for the natural resources they extract. This greater transparency will help local communities to hold their governments accountable for how the income generated by natural resources is used to benefit the common good in their countries.
While the conference report must now still be approved by both the House and the Senate, experts predict that passage is likely before the 4th of July and that the President is expected to sign it into law soon afterwards.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) were among the few organizations that worked to advance both of these provisions, playing a key role in their inclusion to the very end. Neither CRS nor USCCB have taken a position on the overall financial reform bill; but the inclusion of those two provisions was important in advancing the objectives of USCCB and CRS regarding the impact of extractive industries on poverty and conflict.
Thanks in large part to you-Catholics throughout the United States confronting global poverty-we were able to significantly advance these incredibly important issues together.
We will keep you informed of this process and how you can continue supporting these issues. God bless you for your tireless solidarity efforts and many thanks again,
Your Catholics Confront Global Poverty team
Catholics Confront Global Poverty is an initiative by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services.
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Catholic Relief Services
228 W. Lexington St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
1-866-608-5978
globalpoverty@crs.org
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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Washington, DC 20017
(202) 541-3000
globalpoverty@usccb.org
Mon, Jun 28, 2010
GOD, Human Kindness