Durbin Commends Announcement by University of Illinois to Divest From Sudan

Press Release

United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the decision announced by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to fully divest the university system from companies doing business in Sudan. Durbin has been active in urging state and local divestment in Sudan. In March, Senator Durbin introduced bipartisan legislation to provide federal support for such divestment efforts.

"Illinois has led the charge in passing divestment laws," said Durbin. "Thanks to the efforts of State Senator Jackie Collins, and her colleagues, Illinois was the first of seven states to pass divestment laws. Today I applaud the leadership of the University of Illinois trustees who have taken steps to divest and make a commitment to peace in the region."

Durbin's bill, the Sudan Divestment Authorization Act of 2007, affirms that it is the sense of Congress that states and other entities should be permitted to divest their assets of certain holdings as an expression of opposition to the genocide and polices of the Khartoum government. It also expresses the sense of government that such divestment laws are consistent with the Constitution. This authorization would expire in the event that the Khartoum government alters its behavior and federal sanctions are lifted.

Durbin's legislation also recognizes that nongovernmental organizations working in Sudan on humanitarian efforts or companies that are operating under federal permit or to promote health or religious activities should not be classified as supporting the Sudanese government.

The genocide in Sudan has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people and displaced millions of those in Darfur region of that country. The decision of the University of Illinois to divest from Sudan, follows a decision by Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, who divested in March of this year.

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