[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 128 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 128

    Expressing the sense of Congress that Africa is of significant 
  strategic, political, economic, and humanitarian importance to the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 2009

   Mr. Rush (for himself, Mr. Payne, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Rangel, Ms. 
Kilpatrick of Michigan, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Clay, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Cummings, 
Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. Cao, and Mr. Royce) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of Congress that Africa is of significant 
  strategic, political, economic, and humanitarian importance to the 
                             United States.

Whereas contemporary United States ties with Sub-Saharan Africa today far 
        transcend the humanitarian interests that have frequently underpinned 
        United States engagement with the continent;
Whereas Africa now plays an increasingly significant role in meeting the world's 
        energy needs, supplying new and old technologies with vital mineral 
        resources, and countering the transnational threats of terrorism, 
        piracy, global health crises, and trafficking in illegal narcotics and 
        persons;
Whereas there is a growing understanding in foreign policy circles that economic 
        development, natural resource management, human security, and global 
        stability are inextricably linked;
Whereas Freedom House concluded this year that 19 African countries are 
        electoral democracies and asserted that these include ``some of the most 
        promising examples of new democracies in the world--places where leaders 
        who came to power through fair and competitive elections provide real 
        opportunities for their citizens to live in freedom'';
Whereas the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has entered 
        into 11 compacts with African countries, worth nearly $4.5 billion, 
        reflecting these countries' commitment to policies that promote 
        political and economic freedom, investments in education and health, the 
        sustainable use of natural resources, control of corruption, and respect 
        for civil liberties and the rule of law;
Whereas African economies are among the fastest growing globally and registered 
        nearly 6 percent overall economic growth in 2007, the highest in 20 
        years;
Whereas there are now 40 sub-Saharan African countries eligible for trade 
        benefits under the United States African Growth and Opportunity Act 
        (AGOA), the highest number ever;
Whereas United States exports to Sub-Saharan Africa totaled $14.4 billion in 
        2007, an amount more than double that of 2001, while United States total 
        imports from sub-Saharan Africa more than tripled during this period, to 
        $67.4 billion;
Whereas United States firms are a leading provider of foreign direct investment 
        to Sub-Saharan Africa, investing $13.8 billion by year-end 2006;
Whereas the United States Government and private sector jointly promote Africa's 
        economic development, United States trade with the region, and United 
        States-Africa business partnerships;
Whereas African states have collectively adopted the African Union's New 
        Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a self-imposed framework 
        for socio-economic development that aims to improve governance and 
        promote friendlier ties among states;
Whereas oil from North and Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for over 19.5 percent of 
        United States oil imports in 2008, a greater share than oil from Persian 
        Gulf countries;
Whereas the proportion of United States oil imports from Africa is expected to 
        grow to 25 percent over the next decade;
Whereas Africa's natural resources, if carefully managed, will contribute to 
        global prosperity and expand economic growth in Africa;
Whereas the creation of a United States military Africa Command in 2007 reflects 
        Africa's long-term strategic value and strives for a more coherent, 
        coordinated, and effective United States Africa policy;
Whereas the territorial waters of the Horn of Africa are a zone of international 
        strategic importance because a large proportion of global energy 
        supplies and commercial shipping pass through them, necessitating 
        increased United States cooperation with African countries to improve 
        border and coastal security;
Whereas United States military cooperation with Africa is growing, with United 
        States and African forces routinely conducting joint exercises;
Whereas African governments are steadily taking a larger role in the provision 
        of security and peacekeeping on the continent, due in part to United 
        States security assistance and training;
Whereas over 300 million Muslims live in Africa, where they enjoy a long history 
        of tolerance and inter-faith cooperation, making Africa an ideal place 
        for the United States to foster and expand its relationship with the 
        Islamic world;
Whereas Africa's growing importance is reflected in the intensifying efforts of 
        China, Russia, India, Iran, and other countries to gain access to 
        African resources and advance their ties to the region; and
Whereas a more comprehensive, multi-faceted regional policy is essential for the 
        United States to operate effectively in this increasingly competitive 
        environment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Africa is of significant strategic, political, 
        economic, and humanitarian importance to the United States; and
            (2) the United States should vigorously pursue the 
        formation and implementation of an integrated policy framework 
        to advance economic development and trade relations with 
        African nations and to foster strategic, political, economic, 
        humanitarian, and cultural ties of mutual benefit to the United 
        States and Africa.
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