Both the Senate and House have passed legislation that would require the state to sell any investments it holds in companies doing business in Sudan in an attempt to stop the genocide in Darfur. There was no debate on the measures and they passed unanimously.
State pension funds totaling $36 billion currently hold an estimated $150 million invested in 14 companies that do business with Sudan. The legislation requires the state to contact the companies doing business with Sudan and try to persuade them to stop doing business there. It then authorizes the pension board to unload the shares if the company refuses.
