[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 89 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7412-S7413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on a separate issue, I want to comment on 
an issue I mentioned this morning in opening the U.S. Senate, an issue 
that centers on something very close to my heart, and that is the 
continent of Africa.
  I have had the opportunity to travel to Africa this year, to a number 
of African countries, and the year before that, and the year before 
that, and the year before that. Indeed, I have had the opportunity to 
travel to the continent of Africa yearly for the last several years.
  In each case, with maybe one or two exceptions where I went as an 
official, I have had the opportunity to travel to Africa as part of a 
medical mission group, where I have the real privilege of being able to 
interact with the peoples of Africa--whether it is in Kenya, or 
Tanzania, or Uganda, or the Sudan; the Sudan is where I usually go--by 
delivering health care and medicine, and performing surgery, which is 
what I happen to do when I visit with peoples who might not otherwise 
have access to that health care.
  I mention that only because it allows me to be able to talk to real 
people, not just as an official or a VIP coming in, not as somebody 
wearing a suit from the United States of America, but to have the 
opportunity to interact with real people in that doctor-patient 
relationship. I say doctor-patient relationship; really it is a friend-
to-friend relationship. You hear stories, and you really cut through 
superfluous aspects of people's lives and go right to the heart of what 
affects them in their lives.
  It really comes down to how they can provide for their families, how 
they can get a job, how they can earn an income, and how they can, in a 
very primitive way but a very real way, make the lives of their 
children better than theirs--the same desires we all have as Americans.
  I am talking about people in the bush, people in the heart of Africa, 
people 1,000 miles south of Khartoum and 500 miles west of the Nile 
River, way in the bush. When you talk to people, you realize they 
struggle with the exact same things we do, and that is, dignity; that 
is, a concept of self-worth.
  Also, I had the opportunity to travel to Uganda and Kenya and 
throughout East and Central Africa. What people will tell you is that 
policy in the United States makes a difference in their lives; that is, 
policy over the last several years. You may ask them: How do you know 
what we do? They know that a bill that was passed on the floor of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives not too many years ago, signed 
by President Clinton, called the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, has 
made a difference in their lives.
  Indeed, that particular act, passed by the Senate, has created at 
least 150,000 jobs. When President Museveni from Uganda was here, he 
said, no, it is more than that. It is 300,000 jobs. But the point is, 
thousands and thousands of jobs have been created in Africa because of 
legislation that passed on this floor. And a little bit later tonight, 
hopefully in a few minutes, it will be passed on this floor once again.
  I mentioned a few minutes ago I called Congressman Charlie Rangel. I 
did that to congratulate him because he has spearheaded, along with 
many of his colleagues in the House of Representatives, this particular 
bill, a bill that is called H.R. 4103, the AGOA Acceleration Act of 
2004. AGOA simply stands for African Growth and Opportunity Act.

  The bill we will be addressing here tonight extends the AGOA 
preference by 7 years, from 2008 to 2015, and, more importantly, it 
extends the third country fabric provisions that were due to expire 
this year for another 3 years.
  The African Growth and Opportunity Act authorizes the President to 
provide duty-free treatment for certain articles imported from sub-
Saharan African countries. It also provides duty- and quota-free access 
to the U.S. market for apparel made from U.S. fabric, yarn, and thread.
  The program has been a huge success for U.S. policy toward sub-
Saharan Africa. AGOA has helped expand African

[[Page S7413]]

trade. It has created jobs, as I mentioned. It has brought about 
improvements in economic conditions that will be realized in a very 
sustained way throughout Africa. Expanded trade, as we all know, not 
only helps sub-Saharan African countries develop this sustainable 
economic base, but it also leads to efficient government practices, to 
transparency, and to political stability.
  U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa increased 13 percent from 2002 to 
2003. It has created jobs. The United States, today, is sub-Saharan 
Africa's largest single export market, accounting for 26 percent of the 
region's total exports in 2001 alone. U.S. imports under AGOA have 
almost doubled between 2001 and 2003--up to the 2003 level of over $13 
billion.
  One African leader described the program as ``the greatest friendship 
act'' by the U.S. Government towards Africa. In fact, the program has 
been so well received and effective in Africa that the European Union 
is now reexamining its preference program for Africa in light of AGOA's 
success.
  So, Mr. President, I am pleased that we are going to address this 
legislation tonight. Again, having spent so much time in Africa, it is 
with great pride that I congratulate my colleagues for addressing this 
important issue tonight.

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