"I applaud the Governor and the leaders of the General Assembly for enacting into law the Darfur Protection Act, a measure ensuring that Maryland investments do not go to support the genocide taking place in the Darfur region of the Sudan. I particularly want to salute Senator Jones and Delegate Branch for their leadership on this important issue.

I was proud to work this year with Treasurer Kopp to see to it that this significant piece of legislation was enacted into law. We, in fact, became the first Comptroller and Treasurer in the nation to join forces in advocating for a responsible Sudan divestment policy. As the Chair and Vice Chair of the State Retirement Board, Treasure Kopp and I are committed to implementing the Darfur Protection Act and ensuring that the State of Maryland does not invest in the genocide that is taking place in the Sudan. My first commitment is to protecting the investments of our State's employees and retirees. However, I believe that we can get a good return on our investments, while being responsible investors. The Darfur Protection Act will help us achieve this goal and put Maryland at the forefront of the fight for socially responsible investing."

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CONTACT: Joe Shapiro, 410-260-7305