House Resolution 1001
By: Representatives Bell of the 75th, Sanchez of the 42nd, Romman of the 97th, Holly of the
116th, McQueen of the 61st, and others
A RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the ethical investment of all state funds and public resources; and for
other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is steadfast in its commitment to advancing justice, equity,
and the protection of human rights for all people, both within our state and across the globe;
and
WHEREAS, public funds are not merely financial tools but a direct reflection of the public
values we are entrusted to uphold; therefore, they carry a moral obligation to ensure state
investments do not enable, support, or profit from violence or perpetuate violence, whether
through occupation, apartheid, or genocide abroad, or through the furthering of historical,
systemic, or individual racism here in the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, residents across Georgia have expressed a clear and consistent desire for greater
investment in public health, calling for resources directed toward improving access to care,
addressing health disparities, and strengthening community well-being; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia General Assembly has taken meaningful steps in recent budget
cycles to improve the health, safety, and prosperity of Georgia families—investing in
hospitals and clinics, behavioral health services, and community-based supports,
demonstrating its commitment to the long-term strength and vitality of all Georgians; and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is further entrusted with safeguarding the investment
policies of the state, ensuring they align with the social values and human rights standards
we hold ourselves to; and
WHEREAS, on January 12, 2024, the Georgia General Assembly affirmed its commitment
to peace by supporting calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza; and
WHEREAS, continuing to invest state resources in companies, whether domestic or abroad,
that profit directly from perpetuating violence runs counter to these commitments and
undermines Georgia's stated values; and
WHEREAS, this includes companies operating in or partnered with nations documented to
be involved in widespread and systemic human rights violations, including but not limited
to Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where state and corporate entities have been
identified for direct or indirect participation in conflict, violence, occupation, forced
displacement, political repression, and other human rights abuses; and
WHEREAS, it is proper to further recognize the ongoing humanitarian crisis in
Sudan—marked by mass displacement, ethnic cleansing, political repression, and widespread
violence—largely driven by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary organization
responsible for atrocities against civilians and whose operations have been financially and
materially supported by actors linked to the UAE, contributing to instability, civilian harm,
and regional insecurity; and
WHEREAS, investing in companies that directly profit from or enable such conflicts,
including those tied to the RSF's ongoing violence in Sudan, stands in direct opposition to
Georgia's moral responsibility to prevent human suffering and align public funds with public
values; and
WHEREAS, we must also recognize the grave humanitarian crisis in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, where conflict minerals—including cobalt, gold, coltan, and
tungsten—play a major role in fueling violence, displacement, environmental devastation,
and forced labor, particularly affecting women and children; and
WHEREAS, Georgia residents depend heavily on smart phones, computers, electric vehicles,
and other technologies that rely on these minerals and therefore have a vested interest in
ensuring that supply chains are conflict-free, transparent, sustainable, and not tied to human
rights abuses; and
WHEREAS, investing in companies that extract, process, or profit from conflict minerals in
the Congo, without credible certification of conflict-free supply chains, stands in opposition
to Georgia's responsibility to prevent violence and align public funds with public values; and
WHEREAS, audits and public reporting on state investments—including, but not limited to,
pension funds, state funds, managed investments, capital reserves, contractual holdings,
treasury instruments, tax-advantaged accounts, and any other publicly managed financial
resources—have raised concerns that certain holdings may not fully align with ethical
investment standards, including guidelines established by the American Friends Service
Committee.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body urge the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System
of Georgia, the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, the State Treasurer, the State
Accounting Office, and all other state-managed investment entities, boards, divisions, and
authorities to ensure that all state-controlled funds—including retirement funds, investment
portfolios, bond holdings, procurement-related investments, endowments, reserve funds, and
all other public financial assets—are not invested in companies that are complicit in
perpetuating violence against people within our state or abroad, including but not limited to
corporate entities operating in or with Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Sudan—particularly those linked to the RSF—and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
according to the guidelines established by the American Friends Service Committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body express their support for
divestment from companies whose supply chains rely on conflict minerals tied to violence
as well as the implementation of transparent reporting and routine review of all state
investments and funds to ensure compliance with this standard and to uphold the moral,
ethical, and fiscal responsibility entrusted to this body by the people of Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, the
Office of the State Treasurer, the public, and the press.