Author: University of Michigan

Act Now on Senate Bill 555

Honorable Senator Jelinek, I am writing to request that, as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, you schedule a hearing on Senate Bill 555, legislation with bi-partisan support, requiring Michigan to divest public pension funds from targeted companies doing business with the government of Sudan. This "targeted divestment" legislation focuses only on foreign companies that have a business relationship with the government, impart minimal benefit to the country's underprivileged, and have failed to respond to attempts at shareholder engagement. Additionally, the legislation contains safeguards that protect the state's pension funds and allow them to maintain their prudent investor responsibilities. The targeted divestment model has already gained widespread acceptance. To date, twelve states, six cities, and over 50 colleges and universities have approved restrictions on their Sudan-linked investments. An additional seventeen states will consider targeted divestment legislation this year. Given the Sudanese government's historical sensitivity to economic pressure and the ongoing genocide in Darfur, I urge you to allow this critical legislation to be heard before the public and invite you to join the growing number of citizens taking action against genocide. Sincerely,

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Please
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stamp
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Senator Ron Jelinek P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI
48909-7536