[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4610 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4610
To require the Secretary of State to develop a strategy and convene a
summit regarding technological and business development in Africa, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2025
Mr. Panetta (for himself and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of State to develop a strategy and convene a
summit regarding technological and business development in Africa, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Building Resilient Innovation,
Digital Growth, and Entrepreneurship with Africa Act'' or the ``BRIDGE
Africa Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) countries across Africa are experiencing rapid growth
in entrepreneurship, research and development in technology and
artificial intelligence, and investments in innovation that
have the potential to reshape economies and transform Africa's
future by unlocking new levels of innovation and social
development;
(2) the United States should play a role in supporting this
phenomenon through both private and public investments and
finding solutions for potential challenges to investment
opportunities;
(3) investing in the African continent's technological and
entrepreneurial growth is beneficial for soft power diplomacy
by building meaningful partnerships rooted in long-term mutual
progress and shared values;
(4) deeper collaboration opens opportunities for additional
cultural and educational exchanges, becoming a potentially
powerful tool for building enduring relationships;
(5) investing in artificial intelligence that is responsive
to Africa's diversity of ethnicities, languages, and culture
can create substantial breakthroughs for other diverse regions,
including in South America and the Indo-Pacific;
(6) United States investments in African technology and AI
can play a strategic role in counterterrorism efforts by
supporting the development of tech ecosystems, which can
enhance surveillance capabilities, improve data analysis, and
strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure; and
(7) contributing to these areas of growth additionally
strengthens trade and can increase United States exports in
relevant industries such as telecommunications and cloud
infrastructure.
SEC. 3. STRATEGY TO IMPROVE INVESTMENTS AND SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the
Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Treasury, and in consultation
with the Commander of the United States Africa Command, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to increase
cooperation with allies and partners in Africa to identify and to
support new opportunities, investments, entrepreneurship pathways, and
partnerships with respect to the development of advanced technology and
artificial intelligence, including in the areas of finance,
agriculture, health, energy, and education.
(b) Contents.--The strategy required in subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) An analysis of how investments in entrepreneurship
relating to technology and innovation can improve regional
security and combat growing regional terrorist networks and
activities.
(2) An identification of ways the United States can support
African businesses and entrepreneurs to launch and grow
sustainable businesses, create jobs, and design and manufacture
new and critical technologies, including through--
(A) joint research between institutions of higher
education (as such term is defined in section 101 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) and
universities in covered countries;
(B) digital skills training;
(C) cybersecurity training; and
(D) intellectual property education.
(3) An assessment of economic barriers that limit or
prohibit the ability of companies in the United States to
invest in industries or programs in Africa that focus on
technology and innovation.
(4) An identification of areas with respect to which United
States persons and the United States Government can partner
with covered countries to increase investment by citizens of or
entities organized under the laws of an African country or
partner or allied nation, in--
(A) founders of businesses related to advanced
technology and artificial intelligence;
(B) investors in advanced technology and artificial
intelligence;
(C) talent related to advanced technology and
artificial intelligence;
(D) research regarding advanced technology and
artificial intelligence; and
(E) testing related to advanced technology and
artificial intelligence.
(5) An identification of barriers to entrepreneurship in
Africa related to advanced technology and artificial
intelligence, including--
(A) barriers to starting and growing a business;
(B) costs of operating a business;
(C) government policies; and
(D) microeconomic conditions.
(6) An identification of means to facilitate growth,
including through--
(A) training in entrepreneurship;
(B) education of business models;
(C) financial support;
(D) networking opportunities; and
(E) legislative changes.
(7) An identification of Federal agencies and departments
that would be suited to implement the strategy required by this
section, including consideration of the Development Finance
Corporation.
(8) An analysis of how investments by United States persons
and the United States Government can support national security
objectives to combat malign activities by state and nonstate
actors in Africa.
SEC. 4. SUMMIT.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall convene a summit
with representatives of countries that are allies and partners of the
United States for the purpose of coordinating on the contents of the
strategy required by section 3 (if such strategy has not been
finalized) and implementation of such strategy, including--
(1) areas of interest in technology and innovation;
(2) integration of resources;
(3) investment opportunities;
(4) identification of opportunities for African countries
to coordinate with the United States on the development and
implementation of such strategy; and
(5) challenges regarding the implementation of such
strategy.
(b) Location.--The summit required by this section shall take place
in Africa, in a country determined by the Secretary of State in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the
Treasury, and the Commander of the United States Africa Command, and
representatives of such country.
(c) Participants.--The Secretary of State may invite
representatives from covered countries and countries that are partners
and allies of the United States outside of Africa to participate in the
summit required by this section, including the following:
(1) Heads of state.
(2) Representatives from defense, foreign relations,
commerce, treasury, or related agencies.
(3) Subject matter experts.
(4) Entrepreneurs in the field of artificial intelligence
or advanced technology.
(5) Representatives from government development boards, if
applicable.
(6) Any other representative determined appropriate by the
individuals listed in subsection (b).
(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the
summit required by this section, the Secretary of State shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the
following:
(1) An analysis of the outcome of the summit, including
areas of success and areas in need of improvement.
(2) The appropriateness of reconvening the summit,
including a proposed timeframe for reconvening and whether the
summit should be regularly reoccurring.
(3) Findings identified by the summit regarding increasing
investment in the technology industry in Africa.
(4) Any additional information, as the Secretary determines
useful.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Advanced technology.--The term ``advanced technology''
means any technology that supports the development of products,
services, or processes that are innovative and not widely used.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives;
and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(3) Artificial intelligence.--The term ``artificial
intelligence'' has the meaning given such term in section 5002
of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 9401).
(4) Covered country.--The term ``covered country'' means
the following:
(A) The Arab Republic of Egypt.
(B) The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(C) The Kingdom of Morocco.
(D) The Republic of Ghana.
(E) The Republic of Kenya.
(F) The Republic of Rwanda.
(G) The Republic of Senegal.
(H) The Republic of Tunisia.
(I) Any other regional ally or partner of the
United States that the Secretary of State, the
Secretary of Defense, or Secretary of the Treasury
determines appropriate.
(5) Critical technologies.--The term ``critical
technologies'' has the meaning given such term in section
721(a)(6)(A) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C.
4565(a)(6)(A)).
(6) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment
Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8511).
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
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