Subject: File No.
From: Liz Williamson, Dr
Affiliation: Senior Honorary Researcher, University of Stirling

March 9, 2017

Dear Commissioner Piwowar,

I am writing to express my support for the continued implementation of the Conflict Minerals Rule. I have been working towards the conservation of the Grauer's gorillas in eastern DR Congo since the early 1990s. This species has been decimated, eaten by artisanal miners who illegally occupied national parks. In 2016 this species was listed as a Critically Endangered.

In addition to my particular concern for these great apes, it is important to me as a consumer to be able to access key information about the companies I purchase from, including information about their conflict minerals sourcing practices.
I do not want my purchases to support violence and environmental degradation in the DRC Congo, and the Conflict Minerals Rule has made it easier for me to assess which companies are taking steps to ensure their products are not linked to this decades-long conflict.

I urge you to keep the Conflict Minerals Rule fully intact, and to work with your fellow SEC commissioners to enforce the Rule moving forward.

Dr. Liz Williamson