U.S. Congress Moving to Track "Conflict Minerals" - Inter Press Service

WASHINGTON, May15 (IPS) - In an effort to stem the flow of money from mineral mines fueling the brutal civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.S. Senate is pushing ahead with new bipartisan legislation that would force U.S. companies to track and disclose the country of origin of minerals used in common electronic products.

"Without knowing it, tens of millions of people in the United States may be putting money in the pockets of some of the worst human rights violators in the world," said Richard Durbin, the Senate Majority Whip, "simply by using a cell phone or laptop computer." 

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