In response to Jeff Flake’s Senate hearing today on conflict minerals, American Bridge released the following statement:
“Jeff Flake is a career politician with no core principles, trying to give something to everyone. Today, he’s going to spend a few hours pretending to care about human rights in Africa — but his record in Congress tells a different story. Jeff Flake has a history of voting to protect the conflict diamond market, twice voting against cracking down on the illegal trade in diamonds, which were used to fund bloody civil wars and terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda. It’s time for Jeff Flake to answer for his actions,” said American Bridge spokesman Joshua Karp.
Background: Jeff Flake Voted to Protect the Conflict Diamond Trade in the U.S.
April 5: Flake Will Chair A Subcommittee Hearing On Conflict Minerals
April 5, 2017: Flake’s Foreign Relations Subcommittee Is Scheduled To Hold A Hearing on Conflict Minerals. On Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 2:00 PM, the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, whose chair is Sen. Flake, is scheduled to hold a hearing entitled, “A Progress Report on Conflict Minerals.” [Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Viewed 4/3/17]
2001, 2003: Flake Was Part Of An Extreme Minority To Vote Against Banning The Import Of Conflict Diamonds
Flake Voted Against Allowing The President To Ban The Importation Of Conflict Diamonds
2003: Flake Was 1 Of 2 Members Who Voted Against Allowing The President To Ban The Importation Of Conflict Diamonds. In April 2003, Flake voted against legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “require[d] the president to prohibit the import or export into the United States of any rough diamonds that have not been certified as not originating from areas where the diamond trade either finances or creates violent conflict. The president could [have] waive[d] the requirement under certain circumstances. Any person or corporate agent who willfully violates the prohibition could [have] be[en] fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned up to 10 years.” The vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill. The House agreed to the motion, thereby passing the bill, by a vote of 419 to 2. A related version of the bill became law. [House Vote 118, 4/8/03; Congressional Quarterly, 4/8/03; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1584]
2001: Flake Was 1 Of 6 Members Who Voted Against Allowing The President To Ban The Importation Of Conflict Diamonds. In November 2001, Flake voted against legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “allow[ed] the president to ban imports of rough diamonds if exporting countries fail to take effective measures to halt the conflict diamond trade and to ban imports of polished diamonds and jewelry if he believes they were produced with conflict diamonds. It would [have] allow[ed] for penalties for violators, call for reports on the conflict diamond trade and measures taken to stem it, and authorize[d] $5 million in fiscal 2002 and 2003 for assistance to countries implementing new measures under the bill.” The vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 408 to 6. The Senate took no substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 453, 11/28/01; Congressional Quarterly, 11/28/01; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2722]
Published: Apr 5, 2017