WASHINGTON, D.C. - The high-tech industry applauds Congressman Jim McDermott’s work to drive responsible sourcing of minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and supports his legislative efforts to address this important issue.  The high-tech industry is deeply concerned about the social and environmental implications of illegal mining operations within the DRC.

“Any mining activities that fuel conflict are simply unacceptable and our industry is committed to doing its part to ensure transparency and responsible practices within global supply chains,” said Dean Garfield, President and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).  “Congressman McDermott’s continued efforts have helped raise attention and awareness of illegal mining operations, which have adversely affected thousands of individuals within the DRC,” he added.

The high-tech industry has been actively engaged with Representative McDermott’s office on this issue, and supported his legislation to create a map of illegal mines within the DRC and help identify the armed militias that control them. His current legislation builds on this prior effort and helps coordinate the involvement of the U.S. Government, the international community and industry towards developing an effective solution to this shared concern.

Additionally, high-tech is already working through the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the Global eSustainability Initiative (GeSI) to improve transparency across the supply chains for tin, tantalum and cobalt – three of the metals most commonly associated with this issue. While the high-tech sector is only one of many major industries that rely on these metals, we are leading the way in trying to craft a solution. 

The EICC and GeSI launched an effort in early 2009 to enhance transparency in the minerals supply chain and to better determine how these minerals flow from mines to final manufacturing.  This workgroup has engaged companies from all levels of the tantalum mining and processing industry to drive toward a solution that promotes the responsible sourcing of tantalum.

Further, many individual companies have already taken steps to avoid purchasing components that may contain tantalum sourced from conflict mines in the DRC.  These steps are focused on requiring suppliers of components that may contain conflict minerals to certify those components are conflict-free.

 Representative McDermott’s legislation complements industry’s efforts by taking a multi-stakeholder, international approach to solve the problem.  The high tech industry is committed to working with Representative McDermott throughout the legislative process to craft the most effective solution. 

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About ITI

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) is the premiere voice, advocate, and thought leader for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. ITI is widely recognized as the tech industry's most effective advocacy organization in Washington D.C., and in various foreign capitals around the world.