[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 154 (Thursday, November 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H11484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AFRICA TRADE BILL: AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, it is encouraging to see the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act passed yesterday, overwhelmingly passed, and it has 
now passed both chambers of Congress.
  We need to get to work, Mr. Speaker, on putting together a Senate-
House conference committee on this bill so we can get it to the 
President for signature. This legislation is a first step in helping 
Africa help itself by bringing the continent into a positive trading 
partnership with the United States.
  As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, as well as an original 
cosponsor of the bill in the House, I can say that passage of this 
historic bill is good for Africa and it is good for America.
  In addition to bringing Africa into a trading partnership with us, it 
will help open African markets to American goods. America today has 
only 5 percent of Africa's market. France and other European nations 
dominate the continent's trade. With this bill, the U.S. will be able 
to pry some of the African markets away from Europe. This will lead to 
tens of thousands of new jobs for Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I again urge quick formation of a House and Senate 
conference committee on this bill so we can get it to the President for 
signature.

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