[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H11682-H11685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AFRICA: SEEDS OF HOPE ACT OF 1998

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4283) to support sustainable and broad-
based agricultural and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa, and for 
other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the 
Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendment, as follows:
       Senate amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Africa: 
     Seeds of Hope Act of 1998''.

[[Page H11683]]

       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents is as 
     follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and declaration of policy.

               TITLE I--ASSISTANCE FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Sec. 101. Africa Food Security Initiative.
Sec. 102. Microenterprise assistance.
Sec. 103. Support for producer-owned cooperative marketing 
              associations.
Sec. 104. Agricultural and rural development activities of the Overseas 
              Private Investment Corporation.
Sec. 105. Agricultural research and extension activities.

     TITLE II--WORLDWIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

           Subtitle A--Nonemergency Food Assistance Programs

Sec. 201. Nonemergency food assistance programs.

        Subtitle B--Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998

Sec. 211. Short title.
Sec. 212. Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Report.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The economic, security, and humanitarian interests of 
     the United States and the nations of sub-Saharan Africa would 
     be enhanced by sustainable, broad-based agricultural and 
     rural development in each of the African nations.
       (2) According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the 
     number of undernourished people in Africa has more than 
     doubled, from approximately 100,000,000 in the late 1960s to 
     215,000,000 in 1998, and is projected to increase to 
     265,000,000 by the year 2010. According to the Food and 
     Agriculture Organization, the term ``under nutrition'' means 
     inadequate consumption of nutrients, often adversely 
     affecting children's physical and mental development, 
     undermining their future as productive and creative members 
     of their communities.
       (3) Currently, agricultural production in Africa employs 
     about two-thirds of the workforce but produces less than one-
     fourth of the gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa, 
     according to the World Bank Group.
       (4) African women produce up to 80 percent of the total 
     food supply in Africa according to the International Food 
     Policy Research Institute.
       (5) An effective way to improve conditions of the poor is 
     to increase the productivity of the agricultural sector. 
     Productivity increases can be fostered by increasing research 
     and education in agriculture and rural development.
       (6) In November 1996, the World Food Summit set a goal of 
     reducing hunger worldwide by 50 percent by the year 2015 and 
     encouraged national governments to develop domestic food 
     plans and to support international aid efforts.
       (7) Although the World Bank Group recently has launched a 
     major initiative to support agricultural and rural 
     development, only 10 percent, or $1,200,000,000, of its total 
     lending to sub-Saharan Africa for fiscal years 1993 to 1997 
     was devoted to agriculture.
       (8)(A) United States food processing and agricultural 
     sectors benefit greatly from the liberalization of global 
     trade and increased exports.
       (B) Africa represents a growing market for United States 
     food and agricultural products. Africa's food imports are 
     projected to rise from less than 8,000,000 metric tons in 
     1990 to more than 25,000,000 metric tons by the 2020.
       (9)(A) Increased private sector investment in African 
     countries and expanded trade between the United States and 
     Africa can greatly help African countries achieve food self-
     sufficiency and graduate from dependency on international 
     assistance.
       (B) Development assistance, technical assistance, and 
     training can facilitate and encourage commercial development 
     in Africa, such as improving rural roads, agricultural 
     research and extension, and providing access to credit and 
     other resources.
       (10)(A) Several United States private voluntary 
     organizations have demonstrated success in empowering 
     Africans through direct business ownership and helping 
     African agricultural producers more efficiently and directly 
     market their products.
       (B) Rural business associations, owned and controlled by 
     farmer shareholders, also greatly help agricultural producers 
     to increase their household incomes.
       (b) Declaration of Policy.--It is the policy of the United 
     States, consistent with title XII of part I of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961, to support governments of sub-Saharan 
     African countries, United States and African nongovernmental 
     organizations, universities, businesses, and international 
     agencies, to help ensure the availability of basic nutrition 
     and economic opportunities for individuals in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, through sustainable agriculture and rural 
     development.

               TITLE I--ASSISTANCE FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

     SEC. 101. AFRICA FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE.

       (a) Additional Requirements in Carrying Out the 
     Initiative.--In providing development assistance under the 
     Africa Food Security Initiative, or any comparable or 
     successor program, the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development--
       (1) shall emphasize programs and projects that improve the 
     food security of infants, young children, school-age 
     children, women and food-insecure households, or that improve 
     the agricultural productivity, incomes, and marketing of the 
     rural poor in Africa;
       (2) shall solicit and take into consideration the views and 
     needs of intended beneficiaries and program participants 
     during the selection, planning, implementation, and 
     evaluation phases of projects;
       (3) shall favor countries that are implementing reforms of 
     their trade and investment laws and regulations in order to 
     enhance free market development in the food processing and 
     agricultural sectors; and
       (4) shall ensure that programs are designed and conducted 
     in cooperation with African and United States organizations 
     and institutions, such as private and voluntary 
     organizations, cooperatives, land-grant and other appropriate 
     universities, and local producer-owned cooperative marketing 
     and buying associations, that have expertise in addressing 
     the needs of the poor, small-scale farmers, entrepreneurs, 
     and rural workers, including women.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, 
     if there is an increase in funding for sub-Saharan programs, 
     the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development should proportionately increase 
     resources to the Africa Food Security Initiative, or any 
     comparable or successor program, for fiscal year 2000 and 
     subsequent fiscal years in order to meet the needs of the 
     countries participating in such Initiative.

     SEC. 102. MICROENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Bilateral Assistance.--In providing microenterprise 
     assistance for sub-Saharan Africa, the Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development shall, to 
     the extent practicable, use credit and microcredit assistance 
     to improve the capacity and efficiency of agriculture 
     production in sub-Saharan Africa of small-scale farmers and 
     small rural entrepreneurs. In providing assistance, the 
     Administrator should use the applied research and technical 
     assistance capabilities of United States land-grant 
     universities.
       (b) Multilateral Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development shall continue to work 
     with other countries, international organizations (including 
     multilateral development institutions), and entities 
     assisting microenterprises and shall develop a comprehensive 
     and coordinated strategy for providing microenterprise 
     assistance for sub-Saharan Africa.
       (2) Additional requirement.--In carrying out paragraph (1), 
     the Administrator should encourage the World Bank 
     Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest to coordinate the 
     strategy described in such paragraph.

     SEC. 103. SUPPORT FOR PRODUCER-OWNED COOPERATIVE MARKETING 
                   ASSOCIATIONS.

       (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
       (1) to support producer-owned cooperative purchasing and 
     marketing associations in sub-Saharan Africa;
       (2) to strengthen the capacity of farmers in sub-Saharan 
     Africa to participate in national and international private 
     markets and to promote rural development in sub-Saharan 
     Africa;
       (3) to encourage the efforts of farmers in sub-Saharan 
     Africa to increase their productivity and income through 
     improved access to farm supplies, seasonal credit, technical 
     expertise; and
       (4) to support small businesses in sub-Saharan Africa as 
     they grow beyond microenterprises.
       (b) Support for Producer-Owned Cooperative Marketing 
     Associations.--
       (1) Activities.--
       (A) In general.--The Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development is authorized to utilize 
     relevant foreign assistance programs and initiatives for sub-
     Saharan Africa to support private producer-owned cooperative 
     marketing associations in sub-Saharan Africa, including rural 
     business associations that are owned and controlled by farmer 
     shareholders.
       (B) Additional requirements.--In carrying out subparagraph 
     (A), the Administrator--
       (i) shall take into account small-scale farmers, small 
     rural entrepreneurs, and rural workers and communities; and
       (ii) shall take into account the local-level perspectives 
     of the rural and urban poor through close consultation with 
     these groups, consistent with section 496(e)(1) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2293(e)(1)).
       (2) Other activities.--In addition to carrying out 
     paragraph (1), the Administrator is encouraged--
       (A) to cooperate with governments of foreign countries, 
     including governments of political subdivisions of such 
     countries, their agricultural research universities, and 
     particularly with United States nongovernmental organizations 
     and United States land-grant universities, that have 
     demonstrated expertise in the development and promotion of 
     successful private producer-owned cooperative marketing 
     associations; and
       (B) to facilitate partnerships between United States and 
     African cooperatives and private businesses to enhance the 
     capacity and technical and marketing expertise of business 
     associations in sub-Saharan Africa.

     SEC. 104. AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES OF 
                   THE OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION.

       (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage 
     the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to work with 
     United States businesses and other United States entities to 
     invest in rural sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in ways that 
     will develop the capacities of small-scale farmers and small 
     rural entrepreneurs, including women, in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation should 
     exercise its authority under law to undertake an initiative 
     to support private agricultural and rural development in sub-
     Saharan Africa, including issuing loans, guaranties, and

[[Page H11684]]

     insurance, to support rural development in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, particularly to support intermediary organizations 
     that--
       (A) directly serve the needs of small-scale farmers, small 
     rural entrepreneurs, and rural producer-owned cooperative 
     purchasing and marketing associations;
       (B) have a clear track-record of support for sound business 
     management practices; and
       (C) have demonstrated experience with participatory 
     development methods; and
       (2) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation should 
     utilize existing equity funds, loan and insurance funds, to 
     the extent feasible and in accordance with existing 
     contractual obligations, to support agriculture and rural 
     development in sub-Saharan Africa.

     SEC. 105. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Development of Plan.--The Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Agriculture and appropriate Department 
     of Agriculture agencies, especially the Cooperative State, 
     Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), shall 
     develop a comprehensive plan to coordinate and build on the 
     research and extension activities of United States land-grant 
     universities, international agricultural research centers, 
     and national agricultural research and extension centers in 
     sub-Saharan Africa.
       (b) Additional Requirements.--Such plan shall seek to 
     ensure that--
       (1) research and extension activities will respond to the 
     needs of small-scale farmers while developing the potential 
     and skills of researchers, extension agents, farmers, and 
     agribusiness persons in sub-Saharan Africa;
       (2) sustainable agricultural methods of farming will be 
     considered together with new technologies in increasing 
     agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa; and
       (3) research and extension efforts will focus on 
     sustainable agricultural practices and will be adapted to 
     widely varying climates within sub-Saharan Africa.

     TITLE II--WORLDWIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

           Subtitle A--Nonemergency Food Assistance Programs

     SEC. 201. NONEMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--In providing nonemergency assistance under 
     title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance 
     Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.), the Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development shall 
     ensure that--
       (1) in planning, decisionmaking, and implementation in 
     providing such assistance, the Administrator takes into 
     consideration local input and participation directly and 
     through United States and indigenous private and voluntary 
     organizations;
       (2) each of the nonemergency activities described in 
     paragraphs (2) through (6) of section 201 of such Act (7 
     U.S.C. 1721), including programs that provide assistance to 
     people of any age group who are otherwise unable to meet 
     their basic food needs (including feeding programs for the 
     disabled, orphaned, elderly, sick and dying), are carried 
     out; and
       (3) greater flexibility is provided for program and 
     evaluation plans so that such assistance may be developed to 
     meet local needs, as provided for in section 202(f) of such 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 1722(f)).
       (b) Other Requirements.--In providing assistance under the 
     Agriculture Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of United 
     States Agency for International Development shall ensure that 
     commodities are provided in a manner that is consistent with 
     sections 403 (a) and (b) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1733 (a) and 
     (b)).

        Subtitle B--Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998

     SEC. 211. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Bill Emerson 
     Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998''.

     SEC. 212. BILL EMERSON HUMANITARIAN TRUST ACT.

       (a) In General.--Section 302 of the Agricultural Act of 
     1980 (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``or Funds'' 
     after ``Commodities'';
       (B) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) funds made available under paragraph (2)(B) which 
     shall be used solely to replenish commodities in the 
     trust.''; and
       (C) in paragraph (2) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) Funds.--Any funds used to acquire eligible 
     commodities through purchases from producers or in the market 
     to replenish the trust shall be derived--
       ``(i) with respect to fiscal years 2000 through 2002 from 
     funds made available to carry out the Agricultural Trade 
     Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691 et 
     seq.) that are used to repay or reimburse the Commodity 
     Credit Corporation for the release of eligible commodities 
     under subsections (c)(2) and (f)(2), except that, of such 
     funds, not more than $20,000,000 may be expended for this 
     purpose in each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2002; and
       ``(ii) from funds authorized for that use by an 
     appropriations Act.'';
       (2) in subsection (c)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``assistance.--Notwithstanding'' and 
     inserting the following: ``assistance.--
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Limitation.--The Secretary may release eligible 
     commodities under subparagraph (A) only to the extent such 
     release is consistent with maintaining the long-term value of 
     the trust.'';
       (3) in subsection (d)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) subject to the need for release of commodities from 
     the trust under subsection (c)(1), for the management of the 
     trust to preserve the value of the trust through acquisitions 
     under subsection (b)(2).''; and
       (4) in subsection (f)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``of the trust'' after 
     ``Reimbursement'' in the heading; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``and the funds shall 
     be available to replenish the trust under subsection (b)'' 
     before the end period.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Title III of the Agricultural Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 
     1736f-1 et seq.) is amended by striking the title heading and 
     inserting the following:

            ``TITLE III--BILL EMERSON HUMANITARIAN TRUST''.

       (2) Section 301 of the Agricultural Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 
     1736f-1 note) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       ``This title may be cited as the `Bill Emerson Humanitarian 
     Trust Act'.''.
       (3) Section 302 of the Agricultural Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 
     1736f-1) is amended--
       (A) in the section heading, by striking ``reserve'' and 
     inserting ``trust'';
       (B) by striking ``reserve'' each place it appears (other 
     than in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1)) and 
     inserting ``trust'';
       (C) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Reserve'' and 
     inserting ``Trust'';
       (ii) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``reserve,'' and 
     inserting ``trust,''; and
       (iii) in the paragraph heading of paragraph (2), by 
     striking ``reserve'' and inserting ``trust''; and
       (D) in the subsection heading of subsection (e), by 
     striking ``Reserve'' and inserting ``Trust''.
       (4) Section 208(d)(2) of the Agricultural Trade Suspension 
     Adjustment Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 4001(d)(2)) is amended by 
     striking ``Food Security Commodity Reserve Act of 1996'' and 
     inserting ``Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1736f-1 et seq.)''.
       (5) Section 901b(b)(3) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 
     U.S.C. App. 1241f(b)(3)), is amended by striking ``Food 
     Security Wheat Reserve Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1)'' and 
     inserting ``Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1736f-1 et seq.)''.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 301. REPORT.

       Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, in consultation with the heads of 
     other appropriate agencies, shall prepare and submit to 
     Congress a report on how the Agency plans to implement 
     sections 101, 102, 103, 105, and 201 of this Act, the steps 
     that have been taken toward such implementation, and an 
     estimate of all amounts expended or to be expended on related 
     activities during the current and previous 4 fiscal years.

  Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from New York?
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I do 
not intend to object, but under my reservation, I yield to the 
distinguished gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. It is 
well-supported in both houses of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, the Africa Seeds of Hope Act (H.R. 4383 was originally 
sponsored by this Member with the support and assistance of the 
distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) and many other 
Members from both sides of the aisle, including Chairman Ben Gilman. 
This legislation is non-controversial legislation with strong 
bipartisan support in the House and Senate, tremendous grass-roots 
support throughout the nation, and support from the Administration 
including the United States Department of Agriculture. It previously 
passed the House on voice vote on September 28, 1998. The Senate passed 
it this morning with very modest changes, which have bipartisan support 
in the House. The changes include deletion of some findings clauses and 
a sunset provision for the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. The sunset 
provision, added at the request of the Senate

[[Page H11685]]

Budget Committee, insures that the operation and funding of this food 
aid trust will be revisited in the next farm bill.
  Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of this legislation, this Member would 
like to make clear that Section 212 of this legislation is a mechanism 
to enable USDA to fill the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust with funds 
or commodities that represent repayments to the Commodity Credit 
Corporation. The intent of this section is to enable USDA to use the 
$20 million annual limit in funds or commodities to fill the trust and 
use it in times of emergencies. Therefore, 212(a) is an annual 
limitation only on inflows to the trust (capped at $20 million 
annually) while outflows from the trust have no annual limitation and 
can equal the cumulative amount of the trust in any one year.
  The Africa Seeds of Hope Act (H.R. 4283) was introduced by this 
Member on July 21, 1998, with the support of the distinguished 
gentleman from Indiana, the Ranking Democrat on the House International 
Relations Committee (Mr. Hamilton). It is the successor bill to H.R. 
3636, which was introduced on April 1, 1998. Because of some confusion 
regarding the two bills, this Member regrets that a few Members of 
Congress who wanted to be listed as a co-sponsor of H.R. 4283 were not 
added prior to the House passage of this legislation. Therefore, this 
Member would like to recognize that the distinguished gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt) strongly supported this legislation and 
would have liked to have been added as a co-sponsor.
  This legislation was overwhelmingly passed by the House Committee on 
International Relations on July 22, 1998, and it was discharged by the 
House Committee on Agriculture on September 11, 1998.
  The Africa Seeds of Hope Act helps U.S. agriculture while promoting 
sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa so Africans can be less 
dependent on U.S. humanitarian assistance in the future. That is why 
H.R. 4283 has the support of both agricultural and humanitarian 
organizations and the United States Department of Agriculture. This 
win-win combination of grass roots supporters has been the foundation 
of America's long-term, good-will building, humanitarian food aid 
efforts since World War II.
  Mr. Speaker, the predominant organization responsible for stimulating 
the creation and support for this legislation is the organization Bread 
for the World, a nondenominational Christian organization led by Rev. 
David Beckmann.
  The Africa Seeds of Hope Act has been endorsed by over 220 
agricultural and humanitarian organizations including: the Association 
for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD), the 
Coalition for Food Aid, numerous land grant colleges, InterAction and 
major U.S. private voluntary agencies such as CARE, World Vision, ACDI/
VOCA, Catholic Relief Services, Technoserve, Africare, OXFAM, Islamic 
African Relief Agency USA, and the Mormon World Hunger Committee. In 
addition, this legislation has the support of most Christian 
denominations, Catholic religious communities, and mission groups. And, 
editorial pages from over twenty major newspapers across the country 
have endorsed H.R. 4283.
  Mr. Speaker, a recent article in the Washington Post entitled 
``Africa's Agricultural Rebirth'' quoted a Vice-Minister of Agriculture 
from Ethiopia as saying ``You cannot detach economic development from 
food self-sufficiency.'' That profound truth is the essence of the 
Africa Seeds of Hope Act.
  There may be some people who believe or give the impression they 
believe that an admittedly very important trade liberalization effort 
alone can remedy all of Africa's woes. And, equally wrongheaded are 
some in the non-governmental organization community who initially 
expressed their opposition to trade liberalization, saying it would 
only hurt Africa's poor. The Africa Seeds of Hope Act bridges these 
disparate and unnecessarily conflicting ideological points of view with 
a reconciling view. That view is that liberalized trade plus targeted 
foreign assistance to Africa's small farmers, together, can best help 
Sub-Saharan Africa prosper.
  Several months ago, with this Member's support, the House of 
Representatives passed the African Trade Growth and Opportunities Act. 
In doing so, the House took the very important step toward greater 
trade with a continent in desperate need of private-sector led economic 
growth. By focusing on sustainable agriculture, research, rural 
finance, and food security, the Africa Seeds of Hope Act is directly 
aimed at helping the 76 percent of the Sub-Sharan African people who 
are small farmers thus providing another important step towards 
increased African trade. Improving the efficiency of these farmers is 
crucial to ensuring that our overall trade strategy is successful. As a 
longtime supporter of aid to Africa through the creation of the 
Development Fund for Africa and other mechanisms, this Member will tell 
his colleagues that this Member believes H.R. 4283--in conjunction with 
any new Africa trade initiatives--will help coordinate and focus 
America's resources on both trade and aid in Africa.
  If trade is to prosper in Sub-Saharan Africa, we need to better 
direct our scarce aid resources so that they stimulate private sector 
investment or help ease the suffering in those places either overlooked 
by the private sector or suffering from natural disasters. Our 
legislation attempts to refine our assistance programs for Sub-Saharan 
Africa and ensure that agriculture and rural development are not 
neglected. For example, this legislation requires the Agency for 
International Development (AID) to reverse its negative funding trend 
for international agricultural research and development. This will 
address the legitimate concern of U.S. land grant institutions that the 
Agency for International Development was increasingly ignoring 
sustainable agriculture in its development mandate. Also, the 
microenterprise program is recognized by this legislation and 
emphasized as an excellent tool to help remedy rural finance and 
investment shortcoming in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  Moreover, H.R. 4283 attempts to better coordinate our international 
agricultural research programs with our domestic agricultural research 
so that farmers in Africa, as well as farmers in the United States, can 
benefit from AID funded agricultural research. The Africa Seeds of Hope 
Act refocuses our food assistance programs on long-term development 
assistance instead of being evaluated on the basis of short-term or 
immediate results that are often antithetical to their original 
purpose. This will enable non-governmental organizations and private 
voluntary organizations to design and implement food assistance 
programs that are cost-effective and ultimately succeed in graduating 
people and countries from those programs.
  Finally, H.R. 4283 also establishes a Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust 
in honor of the late, distinguished and much admired Congressman from 
Missouri who was a leader on America's food aid efforts. This important 
mechanism allows the United States Department of Agriculture to 
purchase surplus agricultural commodities when prices are low, isolate 
them from the market, and distribute them at times of international 
disasters and famines. This cost-effective mechanism is especially 
beneficial to U.S. farmers because it takes U.S. commodities off of the 
market when commodity prices are at their lowest, such as now. The Bill 
Emerson Humanitarian Trust is a worthy tribute to our late colleague, 
and this Member would like to thank the distinguished gentlewomen from 
Missouri (Mrs. Emerson) for allowing us to further honor her late 
husband in this manner.
  Finally, this Member would like to thank the distinguished 
gentlewoman from California (Maxine Waters), the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Cynthia McKinney) and the distinguished 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Eva Clayton) for their special effort 
with the Congressional Black Caucus on behalf of the Africa Seeds of 
Hope Act. And this Member would like to thank the distinguished woman 
from Connecticut (Nancy Johnson) and the distinguished women from the 
District of Columbia (Eleanor Holmes Norton) for their work with the 
Congressional Woman's Caucus on behalf of this legislation.
  In conclusion Mr. Speaker, the Africa Seeds of Hope Act is 
legislation that benefits farmers in Africa as well as the United 
States.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I 
yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, this is a very significant measure. I rise 
in support of the measure, and I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Bereuter) for bringing it to the floor at this time.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to further add my voice 
of support.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the initial request of 
the gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________