[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 84 (Thursday, June 17, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S7027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in a few moments, we will be closing for 
the evening after a very productive day, but before doing that, I wish 
to make a few comments on an issue that is very close to my heart, and 
it concerns the wonderful continent of Africa.
  I have had the opportunity to work for periods of time in Africa as 
part of my former profession--medicine--and as part of medical mission 
work. Indeed, in the last year, I had the opportunity to travel to 
Africa, to the Sudan where I have really been able to capture what I 
love so much in delivering health care. I was in Kenya, Mozambique, 
Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia this past year. So, obviously, I am 
speaking about a continent that is close to me.
  As I traveled through Africa, whether doing medical mission work or 
as a Senator on the part of official delegations, I have had the 
opportunity to observe the huge impact legislation that was passed in 
this Chamber now 4 years ago has had. It is called the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act, which is a critical trade measure that has 
benefited thousands and thousands of Africans and given them hope and 
an outlet for productive activity which paints a much brighter future. 
It is a trade measure that helps Africans, it helps the United States, 
and I believe strongly it helps all of humanity.
  Congress passed the African Growth and Opportunity Act 4 years ago 
with strong bipartisan support in this body. It was signed into law by 
President Clinton. Since that time, it has created about 150,000 new 
jobs and maybe even more than that. President Museveni from Uganda was 
in my office 2 days ago, and he believes 150,000 is an underestimate; 
the real figure may be more like 250,000 or 300,000 jobs.
  Investors, because of this act, have poured about $340 million in new 
private investment into Africa, and because of this investment in 
Africa, there have been new opportunities for U.S. businesses.
  The African Growth and Opportunity Act--most people know it as AGOA--
has given many countries in the continent--and not all have taken 
advantage of it, but many have--an opportunity to compete on a more 
level playing field with nations throughout the world, such as China.
  The reason I come to the floor of the Senate tonight to take a few 
minutes is because these gains could be lost if this body does not act 
on what we call the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004. This act has a lot 
of provisions. It has just been introduced in the Senate, but several 
provisions, if we do not act in this current bill, are set to expire in 
September of this year and, thus, that is why we need to act now, or 
act in the very near future. Hundreds of millions of dollars of 
investments in the continent of Africa are at stake, and hundreds of 
thousands of Africans, many of whom are living in the poorest parts of 
the world, could lose their jobs.
  So I hope my colleagues--and I have had the opportunity to talk to a 
number of them over the course of today and yesterday--will work 
together collectively so we can move this very important bill forward. 
The bill has the strong support of this administration and the strong 
support of both sides of the aisle.
  I spoke with the Democratic leader about the bill, and I know that he 
feels very strongly about it as well. It was approved by the House of 
Representatives last week by voice vote. I encourage my colleagues to 
both look at and support this important bill. It will make a huge 
difference in the lives of Africans. I hope we can address that bill in 
the near future.

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