I am concerned about the human rights and environmental impacts of U.S. corporations operating abroad.
Many corporations generate revenues in excess of the gross domestic products of many countries.
In some case, multinational corporations are in stronger negotiating position than their host countries. Eager to attract foreign investments, many countries of the global South write laws that promote investments often at the expense of human rights and the environment. To address this growing imbalance between corporate rights and corporate responsibilities, human, environmental and labor rights groups have joined together to develop and promote an International Right to Know measure in the Congress. Under this initiative, U.S. based multinational corporations would be required to disclose basic information on their human rights, labor and environmental practices to the U.S. government and affected local communities in countries where they operate. This initiative builds on existing domestic right to know laws and will aid local communities in defending their basic rights.