110 HRES 897 IH: Recognizing the strategic importance of the U.S. House of Representatives 2007-12-19 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 897 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 19, 2007 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Royce, Mr. Burton of Indiana, and Mr. Boozman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Recognizing the strategic importance of the African continent and welcoming the establishment of AFRICOM, and for other purposes.

Whereas the United States provides nearly $9 billion in assistance to Africa each year, with programs ranging from providing humanitarian relief to strengthening health and education systems, breaking down trade barriers and promoting economic development, combating corruption and other illicit activities, and promoting critical democratic, judicial, and human rights reforms; Whereas the United States also provides significant resources to promote security on the African continent, particularly through programs such as the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program, the Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership (TSCTP), Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA), International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Enhanced International Military and Training (E–IMET) programs, Foreign Military Financing (FMF), Contributions to International Peacekeeping (CIPA), International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement programs, and Non-Proliferation Anti-terrorism, Demining, and related programs; Whereas United States military and security assistance programs in Africa represent approximately 3 percent of the United States’ total $9 billion aid and development package for Africa; Whereas in 2003, the Armed Forces of the United States were instrumental in helping to bring stability to war-torn Liberia; Whereas roughly 2,000 members of the United States Armed Forces currently are stationed at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti as part of the Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa (CJTF–HOA) to promote regional stability and prevent conflict in the region; Whereas the African continent faces unique development and security challenges requiring unique United States policy approaches; Whereas development and prosperity in Africa are inextricably linked to peace and stability; Whereas the Department of Defense historically has divided Africa among three separate combatant commands: the U.S. European Command, the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Pacific Command; Whereas in February 2007, the President announced his decision to create a unified command for Africa, the U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM, to provide a more holistic approach toward United States military relations, programs, and activities on the continent under a single headquarters staff; Whereas the stated purpose of AFRICOM is to promote U.S. National Security objectives by working with African states and regional organizations to help strengthen stability and security, while simultaneously streamlining United States security assistance programs and eliminating bureaucratic divisions; Whereas pursuant to that objective, AFRICOM will seek to [build] partnership capacities, [conduct] theater security cooperation, [build] important counter-terrorism skills and, as appropriate, [support] U.S. Government agencies in implementing other programs that promote regional stability; Whereas unlike other commands, AFRICOM’s structure will include a military commander and a civilian deputy, and is expected to include civilian personnel from a variety of Federal departments and agencies, including staff detailed from the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to contribute to the command’s planning and to ensure that its activities are compatible and integrated with other United States Government efforts; Whereas AFRICOM is expected to support, not shape, United States foreign policy in Africa; Whereas AFRICOM serves as an important acknowledgment of the strategic importance of the African continent, as well as an opportunity to help African nations and regional institutions build a safe and secure environment in which they can prosper; Whereas communicating the purposes of AFRICOM to African governments and citizens is an important challenge; Whereas AFRICOM was formally established in Stuttgart, Germany, on October 1, 2007; and Whereas AFRICOM is expected to reach full operating capacity and to establish its headquarters on the African continent by October 1, 2008: Now, therefore, be it

That the United States House of Representatives — (1)recognizes the strategic importance of the African continent and welcomes the establishment of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany, on October 1, 2007, toward that end; (2)awaits the formal establishment of AFRICOM headquarters on the African continent; (3)urges the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and USAID to work collaboratively and consult with African partners to address any concerns regarding conception or implementation of AFRICOM’s mandate, including through rigorous public diplomacy; and (4)encourages African nations to acknowledge and take advantage of the opportunity which AFRICOM represents to collaborate in promoting peace and stability on the continent.