City of Madison - File #: 32165

• File #: 32165
• Version: 1
• Name: Denouncing the use of minerals that fuel violence and favoring verifiably conflict-free products in City of Madison purchasing decisions.
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 11/12/2013
• In control: COMMON COUNCIL
• On agenda: 12/3/2013
• Final action: 12/3/2013
• Enactment date: 12/5/2013
• Enactment #: RES-13-00898
• Title: Denouncing the use of minerals that fuel violence and favoring verifiably conflict-free products in City of Madison purchasing decisions.
• Sponsors: Michael E. Verveer, Shiva Bidar, Chris Schmidt, John Strasser, Maurice S. Cheeks, Marsha A. Rummel, Ledell Zellers, Scott J. Resnick, David Ahrens, Joseph R. Clausius, Mark Clear, Lauren Cnare, Denise DeMarb, Sue Ellingson, Steve King, Larry Palm, Matthew J. Phair, Paul E. Skidmore, Paul R. Soglin, Lisa Subeck, Anita Weier

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
12/3/2013	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Adopt	Pass
11/19/2013	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Refer to a future Meeting to Adopt
11/12/2013	1	Council Office	Referred for Introduction

Fiscal Note
In order to review and evaluate whether future City purchasing practices meet the conflict minerals prohibition standard, purchasing staff resources will need to be reallocated. No additional staff resources are currently envisioned, but there may be a need for additional purchasing staff resources in the future if the additional standard proves burdensome.
Title
Denouncing the use of minerals that fuel violence and favoring verifiably conflict-free products in City of Madison purchasing decisions.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has declared its commitment to human rights and social justice in its policies and has taken affirmative steps throughout its history to promote these values; and

WHEREAS, the United States Senate and the House of Representatives have found that armed groups bear responsibility for massive atrocities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and

WHEREAS, the International Rescue Committee has found more than 5.4 million civilians have been killed and countless more remain at risk as a consequence of attacks conducted by armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and

WHEREAS, armed groups generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year by trading in conflict minerals and operate with little accountability for perpetrating economic crimes and crimes against humanity; and

WHEREAS, legislation signed into law (Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act of 2010) requires that companies submit an annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosing whether their products contain gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten from the Democratic Republic of Congo or an adjoining country; and

WHEREAS, University of Wisconsin-Madison students are actively involved in a growing movement for peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo - the Conflict-Free Campus Initiative - a nationwide campaign that focuses on building the consumer voice for conflict-free electronics, such as cell phones, laptop...