Divestment Push Gains Support

jewishexponent.com, August 9, 2007

The legislative push to divest from both Sudan and Iran has seen a flurry of activity in statehouses across the country, and has now gained some traction on Capitol Hill.

On July 31, the House passed the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act sponsored by U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.). The measure is similar to one enacted by the City of Philadelphia last year, as well as one passed last month by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which is headed for the State Senate.

The congressional bill calls for the establishment of a federal list of foreign-owned companies that do business with Sudan, and are deemed "culpable" of contributing directly or indirectly to the government sponsor of Janjaweed militia groups.

Alongside efforts to isolate Khartoum, there's been momentum to utilize economic tools to hamper Iranian nuclear progress.

To that end, the House passed the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, which, if it becomes law, would require the U.S. government to publish a list of foreign-owned companies that invest more than $20 million in Iran's energy sector.

"We can put the squeeze on Iran using this tool," said U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.).