Russ Feingold

We have seen with the M23 it is possible, with a combination of military and diplomatic pressure, to persuade people maybe it is a good idea for them to abandon these people.

What it means to me is just coming up with another agreement, signing a piece of paper, and saying, okay, now everybody is going to behave, that is not going to do it.

U.S. companies must now disclose the origin of minerals purchased from the DRC.

Those who have committed these heinous crimes have to be held accountable.

The Congolese reform agenda, which Special Envoy Feingold discussed at length, clearly needs to move forward.

Action against the FDLR and the ADF has to happen I think relatively soon to make sure that the diplomatic commitments that we made are fulfilled.

We made it very clear to them that we thought that was a violation of the framework and something that should not happen.

It is not just a political solution. It is a complex relationship between the peoples in that region.

Sadly the answer was no, maybe some downturn in some places but this is still going on.

I certainly would not have taken this assignment if I thought there was no way to change it.

We visited directly with each of the Presidents. We spoke directly about the fact that we believe that in some instances support was being given and that that was not tolerable.

I think we need to continue to support an extension which will be decided in March.

People say, well, it has always been the same. Things never work out in the DRC. That was not true in 2006.

I think there has been some of that, but I think, based on my actual observation of what is happening over there, less than I would have expected based on those comments.

We will want to see even more support in this regard and guarding against any reduction.

These were not easy conversations, but they were direct and I think they were helpful in making it clear that the United States certainly does not overlook that sort of thing in this context.

Well, Mr. Chairman, this is where the process that is a little more promising is the key, and that is that the justice system of the DRC has to move forward in an effective way to be able to prosecute these individuals.

We need more clarity from the Democratic Republic of Congo and not simply how much they intend to devote to this but also exactly the kinds of things you were describing.

Not only is democracy in the Congo problematic, particularly following the 2011 elections, but those in neighboring countries as well.

It may be necessary to have an intervention brigade like this that is skilled at taking tough action but protecting civilians at the same time.

It has been a model of cooperation between the branches that I have experienced with Senator Coons.

We raised this issue with the Rwandan Government that we had seen a credible body of reporting that that was happening.

This region has been brutally exploited by colonial powers and by other countries in a way that is shameful and has denied the birthright of the Congolese people.

The people of eastern Congo, particularly the women of eastern Congo, have to believe that the military is there for them, not to be an opportunity for abusing them.

We still have a place where hundreds of thousands of women have been raped and gotten HIV because of this.