[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 48 (Thursday, April 11, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2590-S2598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Ms. HIRONO (for herself and Mr. Hatch):
S. 703. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to
provide for the eligibility of the Hong Kong Special Administration
Region for designation for participation in the visa waiver program for
certain visitors to the United States; to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce S. 703 with
Senator Hatch to fix a technical problem that prevents Hong Kong from
joining the Visa Waiver Program. Under current law, only ``countries''
are eligible for the program, and Hong Kong is not a sovereign country,
so a special provision needs to be added to the law to make Hong Kong
eligible.
On July 1, 1997, after over 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong
became a Special Administrative Region of China, retaining its own
currency, free market economy, political system, civil liberties, and
immigration policies. This autonomy was recognized by the United States
and affirmed by Congress in passing the United States-Hong Kong Policy
Act.
Today we have a robust bilateral relationship with Hong Kong, a
global financial and trading hub, which was our 10th largest export
market last year and whose trade ties are significant for many States.
The State Department considers Hong Kong an important law enforcement
partner in combating money laundering and eliminating funding for
terrorist networks.
Despite our visa policies treating it separate from Mainland China,
because it is not a ``country,'' Hong Kong is unable to be considered
for the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program is an essential
tool for promoting travel and tourism to America while protecting
national security by allowing precleared business and leisure travelers
from 37 countries to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without obtaining
a nonimmigrant visitor visa.
Hong Kong has secured visa waivers for its passport holders from over
140 countries and territories, including allies such as Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and all member states of
the European Union. Hong Kong has already extended visa waivers to
American citizens. Our laws shouldn't be a barrier to do the same in
the future.
As our largest industry, tourism is important to Hawaii, especially
from Asia. Our largest source of foreign tourists comes from Japan, a
visa waiver country since 1988. In 2011, domestic and international
visitors to Hawaii spent $16.9 billion which supported 160,800 jobs in
the islands according to the U.S. Travel Association.
I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this bipartisan, commonsense
legislation.
______
By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms.
Heitkamp, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, and Mr.
Wyden):
S. 706. A bill to provide the Department of Justice with additional
tools
[[Page S2591]]
to target extraterritorial drug trafficking activity, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Transnational
Drug Trafficking Act of 2013 with my colleagues and friends, Senator
Charles Grassley, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Heidi Heitkamp,
Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Tom Udall and Senator Ron Wyden.
This bill, which passed the Senate unanimously in the last Congress,
will support the Obama administration's Strategy to Combat
Transnational Organized Crime by providing the Department of Justice
with crucial tools to help combat the international drug trade. As drug
traffickers find new and innovative ways to avoid prosecution, we must
keep up with them rather than allowing them to exploit loopholes as our
laws lag behind.
This legislation has three main components. First, it puts in place
penalties for extraterritorial drug trafficking activity when
individuals have reasonable cause to believe that illegal drugs will be
trafficked into the United States. Current law says that drug
traffickers must know that illegal drugs will be trafficked into the
United States and this legislation would lower the knowledge threshold
to reasonable cause to believe.
The Department of Justice has informed my office that with increasing
frequency, it sees drug traffickers from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru who
produce cocaine in their countries but leave transit of cocaine to the
United States in the hands of Mexican drug trafficking organizations
such as the Zetas. Under current law, our ability to prosecute source-
nation traffickers from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru is limited since
there is often no direct evidence of their knowledge that illegal drugs
were intended for the United States. But make no mistake, drugs
produced in these countries fuel violent crime throughout the Western
Hemisphere as well as addiction and death in the United States.
Second, this bill puts in place penalties for precursor chemical
producers from other countries, such as those producing pseudoephedrine
used for methamphetamine, who illegally ship precursor chemicals into
the United States knowing that these chemicals will be used to make
illegal drugs.
Third, this bill will make a technical fix to the Counterfeit Drug
Penalty Enhancement Act which was signed into law last year and
increases penalties for the trafficking of counterfeit drugs. The fix,
requested by the Department of Justice, puts in place a ``knowing''
requirement which was unintentionally left out of the original bill.
The original bill makes the mere sale of a drug that happens to be
counterfeit a federal felony offense regardless of whether the seller
knew the drug was counterfeit. Under the original bill, a pharmacist
could be held criminally liable if he or she unwittingly sold
counterfeit drugs to a customer. Adding a ``knowing'' requirement
corrects this problem.
As Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control
and as a public servant who has focused on law enforcement issues for
many years, I know that we cannot sit idly by as drug traffickers find
new ways to circumvent our laws. We must provide the Department of
Justice with all of the tools it needs to prosecute drug kingpins both
here at home and abroad.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 706
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 ``Transnational Drug
Trafficking Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE OR DISTRIBUTION FOR PURPOSES
OF UNLAWFUL IMPORTATIONS.
Section 1009 of the Controlled Substances Import and Export
Act (21 U.S.C. 959) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively; and
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``It shall'' and all
that follows and inserting the following: ``It shall be
unlawful for any person to manufacture or distribute a
controlled substance in schedule I or II or flunitrazepam or
a listed chemical intending, knowing, or having reasonable
cause to believe that such substance or chemical will be
unlawfully imported into the United States or into waters
within a distance of 12 miles of the coast of the United
States.
``(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture or
distribute a listed chemical--
``(1) intending or knowing that the listed chemical will be
used to manufacture a controlled substance; and
``(2) intending, knowing, or having reasonable cause to
believe that the controlled substance will be unlawfully
imported into the United States.''.
SEC. 3. TRAFFICKING IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS OR SERVICES.
Chapter 113 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 2318(b)(2), by striking ``section 2320(e)''
and insertion ``section 2320(f)''; and
(2) in section 2320--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4) and
inserting the following:
``(4) traffics in a drug and knowingly uses a counterfeit
mark on or in connection with such drug,'';
(B) in subsection (b)(3), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``counterfeit drug'' and
inserting ``drug that uses a counterfeit mark on or in
connection with the drug''; and
(C) in subsection (f), by striking paragraph (6) and
inserting the following:
``(6) the term `drug' means a drug, as defined in section
201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.
321).''.
______
By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Franken, Ms. Stabenow, Mr.
Whitehouse, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Brown):
S. 707. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend
the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans; to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, once again, on July 1, millions of college
students will see the interest rate double on their student loans from
3.4 percent to 6.8 percent unless Congress takes action. Borrowers will
pay an estimated $1,000 more in interest on their loans each year of
repayment if Congress fails to act.
Student loan debt is second only to mortgage debt for American
families. Now is not the time to add to student loan debt by allowing
the interest rate on need-based student loans to double. I am pleased
to introduce the Student Loan Affordability Act with my colleagues
Senator Al Franken, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Debbie
Stabenow, Senator Sherrod Brown, and Senator Bernie Sanders to maintain
the current 3.4 percent interest rate for the next 2 years, as we work
towards a long-term solution in the reauthorization of the Higher
Education Act.
Last Congress, we narrowly averted a doubling of the interest rate on
need-based student loans. It took thousands of calls, letters, and
rallies from students and parents across the country and our concerted
effort to negotiate a bipartisan solution. However, we were only able
to get a temporary, 1-year fix.
The budget passed by the House Republicans assumes a doubling of the
interest rate. In stark contrast, the budget resolution we passed last
month accommodates legislation to keep rates low.
We need to come together to develop long-term solutions to the
growing burden of student loan debt, the rising cost of college, and
the need to improve higher education outcomes so that students complete
their degrees and get the full benefit of their investment in
education. Everyone agrees that college costs are too high and climbing
higher. Families will be priced out of a college education, even with
grants and loans, if we do not take real action on curbing cost
increases.
What we can do right now is reassure students and families that we
will not allow the interest rate to double this July at a time when
interest rates are at historic lows.
Student loan debt affects millions of Americans. Two-thirds of the
class of 2011 graduated owing student loans, with an average debt of
$26,000. Student loan debt has passed the $1 trillion mark--exceeding
credit card debt. Moreover, the students and families we are trying to
help with the Student Loan Affordability Act have demonstrated economic
need. Indeed, approximately 60 percent of the dependent students who
qualify for subsidized loans come from families with incomes of less
than $60,000.
[[Page S2592]]
The question before us is will we make the student loan debt burden
worse by allowing interest rates to double or will we take action to
protect low and moderate income students.
We need to act fast. July 1 is only 81 days away. I urge all our
colleagues to join us in supporting the Student Loan Affordability Act.
______
By Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Coons):
S. 712. A bill to allow acceleration certificates awarded under the
Patents for Humanity Program to be transferrable; to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the American intellectual property system
is rightly held as the global standard for promoting innovation and
driving economic growth. This is particularly true of our patent
system, which was recently updated and strengthened for the 21st
century by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. The fundamental truth
that our Founders recognized more than 200 years ago--that limited
exclusive rights for inventors incentivize research and development--
continues to benefit consumers and the American economy at large.
These limited rights can also be applied to incentivize research and
discoveries that advance humanitarian needs. In my time in the Senate,
I have worked to promote policies that encourage intellectual property
holders to apply their work to address global humanitarian challenges.
Today, I am pleased to join with Senator Coons in reintroducing the
Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act to again advance such
policies.
This legislation improves on a program created by the United States
Patent and Trademark Office, PTO, last year. The PTO's Patents for
Humanity Program provides rewards to selected patent holders who apply
their technology to a humanitarian issue that significantly affects the
public health or quality of life of an impoverished population. Those
who receive the award are given a certificate to accelerate certain PTO
processes.
This year, the innovations that received awards touched on critical
areas that will help improve the quality of life for people throughout
the world. Award winners worked to improve the treatment and diagnosis
of devastating diseases, improve nutrition and the environment, and
combat the spread of dangerous counterfeit drugs. These are innovations
that will make a real difference in the lives of people in the
developing world and elsewhere.
Following a Judiciary Committee hearing last year, I asked PTO
Director Kappos whether the Patents for Humanity program would be more
effective, and more attractive to innovators, if the acceleration
certificates awarded were transferable to a third party. He responded
that it would, and that it would be particularly beneficial to small
businesses. The Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act makes
these acceleration certificates transferrable. It is a straightforward,
cost-neutral bill that will strengthen this useful program.
When Congress can establish policies that provide business incentives
for humanitarian endeavors, it should not hesitate to act. I urge the
Senate to work swiftly to pass this legislation.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 712
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 ``Patents for Humanity Program
Improvement Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. TRANSFERABILITY OF ACCELERATION CERTIFICATES.
(a) In General.--A holder of an acceleration certificate
issued pursuant to the Patents for Humanity Program
(established in the notice entitled ``Humanitarian Awards
Pilot Program'', published at 77 Fed. Reg. 6544 (February 8,
2012)), or any successor thereto, of the United States Patent
and Trademark Office, may transfer (including by sale) the
entitlement to such acceleration certificate to another
person.
(b) Requirement.--An acceleration certificate transferred
under subsection (a) shall be subject to any other applicable
limitations under the notice entitled ``Humanitarian Awards
Pilot Program'', published at 77 Fed. Reg. 6544 (February 8,
2012), or any successor thereto.
______
By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse):
S. 713. A bill to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act to add Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, along with my colleague Senator
Whitehouse, I am introducing the Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act
of 2013.
For nearly a decade, I have worked to give the fishermen of my state
full participation in the management of the fish stocks that they rely
on for their livelihoods.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
established eight regional fishery management councils to give
fishermen and other stakeholders the leading role in developing the
fishery management plans for federally-regulated species. As such, the
councils have enormous significance on the lives and livelihoods of
fishermen. To ensure equitable representation, the statute sets out the
states from which appointees are to be drawn for each council.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the State of Rhode Island was granted
voting membership on the New England Fishery Management Council, NEFMC,
as NEFMC-managed stocks represent a significant percentage of landings
and revenue for the state. However, while Rhode Island's participation
in the New England fishery remains important, its stake in the Mid-
Atlantic fishery has become more critical. Yet, it does not have voting
representation on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, MAFMC,
which currently consists of representatives from New York, New Jersey,
Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Rhode Island's stake in the Mid-Atlantic fishery is hardly
incidental. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, NOAA, data, Rhode Island accounted for approximately 20
percent of the commercial catch from this fishery in 2012, and its
landings are greater than the combined total of landings for the States
of New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North
Carolina. In fact, New Jersey is the only state currently represented
on the MAFMC that lands more MAFMC-regulated species than Rhode Island.
While Rhode Island is represented on some policy-setting committees
on the MAFMC, its position on those committees is not guaranteed nor
does the state have a vote on matters as they come before the full
council. Having that representation can be critically important to
Rhode Island as decisions are made on critical stocks like squid, which
comprised 40 percent of the state's annual landings in 2012 according
to NOAA data, and is a major part of our commercial fishing sector.
This legislation offers Rhode Island that voice. Following current
practice, the Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act would create two
seats on the MAFMC for Rhode Island: one seat appointed by the
Secretary of Commerce based on recommendations from the Governor of
Rhode Island, and a second seat filled by Rhode Island's principal
State official with marine fishery management responsibility. To
accommodate these new members, the MAFMC would increase in size from 21
voting members to 23.
There is precedent for this type of change. North Carolina was added
to the MAFMC through an amendment to the Sustainable Fisheries Act in
1996. Like Rhode Island, a significant proportion of North Carolina's
landed fish species were managed by the MAFMC, yet the state had no
vote on the council.
With mounting economic, ecological, and regulatory challenges, it is
more important than ever that Rhode Island's fishermen have a voice in
the management of the fisheries on which they depend. I look forward to
working with Senator Whitehouse and my other colleagues to restore a
measure of equity to the fisheries management process by passing the
Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act.
[[Page S2593]]
______
By Mr. REID:
S. 716. A bill to modify the requirements under the STOCK Act
regarding online access to certain financial disclosure statements and
related forms; considered and passed.
Mr.REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the
bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 716
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. MODIFICATIONS OF ONLINE ACCESS TO CERTAIN
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS AND RELATED
FORMS.
(a) Public, Online Disclosure of Financial Disclosure
Forms.--
(1) In general.--Except with respect to financial
disclosure forms filed by officers and employees referred to
in paragraph (2), section 8(a) and section 11(a) of the STOCK
Act (5 U.S.C. App. 105 note) shall not be effective.
(2) Exempted officers and employees.--The officer and
employees referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
(A) The President.
(B) The Vice President.
(C) Any Member of Congress.
(D) Any candidate for Congress.
(E) Any officer occupying a position listed in section 5312
or section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, having been
nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to
that position.
(3) Conforming amendment.--Section 1 of the Act entitled
``An Act to change the effective date for the internet
publication of certain information to prevent harm to the
national security or endangering the military officers and
civilian employees to whom the publication requirement
applies, and for other purposes'' is repealed.
(b) Electronic Filing and Online Availability.--
(1) For members of congress and candidates.--Section 8(b)
of the STOCK Act (5 U.S.C. App. 105 note) is amended--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``, Officers of the House
and Senate, and Congressional Staff'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act'' and inserting ``January 1, 2014'';
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
``(B) public access to--
``(i) financial disclosure reports filed by Members of
Congress and candidates for Congress,
``(ii) reports filed by Members of Congress and candidates
for Congress of a transaction disclosure required by section
103(l) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, and
``(iii) notices of extensions, amendments, and blind
trusts, with respect to financial disclosure reports
described in clauses (i) and (ii),
pursuant to title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978
(5 U.S.C. App. 101 et seq.), through databases that are
maintained on the official websites of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking the first two sentences; and
(ii) in the last sentence, by striking ``under this
section'' and inserting ``under paragraph (1)(B)'';
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ``under this subsection''
and inserting ``under paragraph (1)(B)'';
(E) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``be able to'' after
``shall''; and
(F) in paragraph (5), by striking ``under this subsection''
and inserting ``under paragraph (1)(B)''.
(2) For executive branch officials.--Section 11(b) of the
STOCK Act (5 U.S.C. App. 105 note) is amended--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``Employees'' and inserting
``Officials'' ;
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act'' and inserting ``January 1, 2014'';
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
``(B) public access to--
``(i) financial disclosure reports filed by the President,
the Vice President, and any officer occupying a position
listed in section 5312 or section 5313 of title 5, United
States Code, having been nominated by the President and
confirmed by the Senate to that position,
``(ii) reports filed by any individual described in clause
(i) of a transaction disclosure required by section 103(l) of
the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, and
``(iii) notices of extensions, amendments, and blind
trusts, with respect to financial disclosure reports
described in clauses (i) and (ii),
pursuant to title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978
(5 U.S.C. App. 101 et seq.), through databases that are
maintained on the official website of the Office of
Government Ethics.'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking the first two sentences; and
(ii) in the last sentence, by striking ``under this
section'' and inserting ``under paragraph (1)(B)'';
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ``under this subsection''
and inserting ``under paragraph (1)(B)'';
(E) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``be able to'' after
``shall''; and
(F) in paragraph (5), by striking ``under this subsection''
and inserting ``under paragraph (1)(B)''.
______
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Coons, Ms. Landrieu,
and Mr. Cardin):
S. 718. A bill to create jobs in the United States by increasing
United States exports to Africa by at least 200 percent in real dollar
value within 10 years, and for other purposes; to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise to discuss the Increasing American
Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa Act of 2013.
I am introducing this bill along with my partners from the last
Congress. Senator Chris Coons from the State of Delaware is in the
Chamber, the chair of the African Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. Senators John Boozman, Ben Cardin, and
Mary Landrieu have joined us in this bipartisan effort. We expect
Representatives Chris Smith and Karen Bass will soon introduce
companion legislation in the House.
This is a very straightforward, commonsense piece of legislation.
It is about creating jobs, American jobs. Every $1 billion in exports
from America supports over 5,000 jobs. This bill seeks to expand U.S.
exports specifically to Africa by 200 percent in real dollar value over
the next 10 years. The African market is ripe for greater American
commercial engagement. In the past 10 years, people do not believe
this, but they should take a look at the facts. In the past 10 years,
six of the worlds fastest growing economies were located in Sub-Saharan
Africa.
In the next decade, 7 of the top 10 will be in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The mental image which most Americans have of Africa is completely out
of date. Africa is growing, not only in population but in economic
activity. The middle class of Africa is growing as well. Their appetite
for goods and service puts an opportunity before us to export from
America and to create good jobs in our country with exports to Africa.
In the last decade, the number of Africans with access to the
Internet has doubled. From 1998 to today, the number of mobile phones
on the continent has grown from 4 million to 500 million. Seventy-eight
percent of Africa's rural population now has access to clean water.
Over the last 10 years, real income per person in Africa has increased
by more than 30 percent. Positive health outcomes are increasing.
Enrollment in school is growing.
These are signs of a growing middle class and what the World Bank has
called the brink of an economic takeoff in Africa. As my colleague and
friend Senator Coons has noted, in a report he recently released on the
topic, economic growth in Africa has risen dramatically in recent
years. But the continent's vast economic potential has not yet been
fully realized by the U.S. Government or the American people.
That report from Senator Coons could not have been more timely and
accurate as far as I am concerned. I can tell you, American companies
are eager to get into the African market. They should be. But they
often face a private finance system that is stuck, thinking about
Africa through the prism of the past: wars, famine, strongmen
dictators.
I have met with these company leaders, large and small companies
alike. They tell me the same thing: The U.S. does not have a
coordinated strategy for Africa. Others do. China and others are
gaining a foothold in Africa at the expense of our workers. Yesterday,
the Ambassador from Algeria came to see me. It is a country that has a
fascinating background, colonized like most of the countries in Africa.
It went through a storied period of independence in the 1960s and has
French roots. The Ambassador said: We pride ourselves, we believe we
speak better French than the people living in France. That is their
past.
I asked them about their future. I said: What is the presence of
China in Algeria today? He said: It is a growing presence. When it
comes to the infrastructure of Algeria, it is China that is playing a
major role. It is China that is loaning the money to Algeria to build
the roads and the bridges and the airports. But there is a catch. You
want
[[Page S2594]]
to borrow the money from China? There will be Chinese architects,
Chinese engineers, Chinese contractors, and half the workforce will be
Chinese.
Pretty soon they will have become part of Algeria. The next time
there is a decision, whether it is for a telecommunications system,
whatever it might be, you can bet the Chinese, with a history of
working with the Algerian Government, will be first in line.
They know what is happening there. Africa is developing its economy
and they are part of it. They see Africa from two or three different
perspectives. First, obviously, it is an opportunity to sell things. It
is a market. Second, it can provide basic resources and energy needed
by the Chinese. Third, as the middle class grows in each of these
countries, the appetite for more and more economic activity will grow.
There was a time when America knew that too. There was a time when we
visited the four corners of the world looking for those same
opportunities. We are sitting back now and watching. As we watch, China
is moving. As I have said many times, the U.S. system of export,
promotion, and finance is so poorly coordinated that it is a shame we
are losing so many opportunities.
We have dozens of government agencies that are supposed to be working
on this problem. I called many of them in my office. It was the first
time some of them had met one another. They are supposed to be working
together. This bill we are introducing will fix it. It would require a
coordinated government strategy to help increase U.S. exports to
Africa.
Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this strategy
would be vested in a single position, one coordinator. No more agencies
tripping over one another. No more competing priorities. Every day we
delay, China and, I might add, India and others will fill the void if
America does not step forward.
Since 2009, China has been Africa's largest trading partner. It has
flooded the continent with billions of dollars building high-profile
construction projects. Often the assistance comes in the form of
concessional loans, loans that, frankly, suggest you can borrow $100
million, you only have to pay back $70 million. That practice distorts
markets, puts our companies in America at a disadvantage.
Between 2008 and 2010, China provided more to the developing world
than the World Bank, to the tune of $110 billion. Currently, China's
exports to Africa outnumber America's three to one. The Chinese get it.
Should America not get it? Through this engagement, the Chinese are
becoming major players all over Africa. I defy you to find a country in
Africa where the Chinese are not already a part of the economy and part
of the economic conversation.
Recently, Senegal's President Macky Sall told President Obama exactly
that in a meeting at the White House, arguing the West should pay as
much attention to Africa as China does. I have heard the same thing
firsthand, not just from the Algerian Ambassador but from the former
President of Ethiopia. Across the continent, it is the same question:
Where is the United States?
This bill answers the question. No longer would Africans wonder why
American companies were not doing business there. The bill bolsters
U.S. Government ability to support these companies, maintains a solid
presence of U.S. commercial Foreign Service officers. It is going to
help small and medium businesses in the United States compete in
Africa. It will increase the focus of the Export-Import Bank, giving it
greater incentive to aggressively counter those concessional loans. It
will help the Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation more quickly process applications so we can be competitive.
Last Congress we almost passed this bill. One would almost think that
it is a no-brainer. But, unfortunately, we did not. One Senator
objected. He had the courage to come to the floor and voice his
objections. I appreciate that very much. But at the same time, on the
other side of the aisle, Senators Johnson, Coburn, and Corker were
working with me to pass the bill. So we have not given up on making
this a successful bipartisan effort.
I think the United States cannot stand by the sidelines just to say
we believe in a market economy, get the government out of the picture
is to overlook the obvious. The Chinese Government is in the picture,
and they are running circles around American companies because of it.
In thinking about the issue, we must also not ignore the interests of
the Africans themselves--something sometimes our competitors do not
focus on.
Chinese engagement comes with a price. China gobbles up natural
resources that are needed many times for that growing domestic economy.
The infrastructure projects, as I mentioned, often come with Chinese
professionals: architects and engineers and workers. When local labor
is used, African workers often suffer poor labor standards, if the
Chinese are in charge. Environmental standards are ignored. They should
be a priority all over the world. We also have to factor in the cost of
having to replace products and goods much sooner because, sadly, the
Chinese workmanship as well as the quality of their goods does not
match what the United States can bring.
I also wish to mention a growing problem that stems from China's
presence in Africa; that is, the resurgence of elephant poaching and
ivory trafficking. Several recent New York Times articles have
highlighted tens of thousands of elephants have been slaughtered.
One may say: I thought we solved this a few years ago with a
worldwide ivory ban. It turns out ivory is so popular in the Chinese
culture in part of its burgeoning population, one item is sought as an
ultimate status symbol in China: Ivory. Reports are that as much as 70
percent of the ivory harvested from slaughtered elephants is smuggled
to China. In fact, there is growing evidence that ivory poaching
actually increases in elephant-rich areas where the Chinese
construction workers are building roads.
Even more troubling, the Chinese demand for ivory funds some of the
most despicable actors in Africa. Much of the proceeds from the illegal
ivory trade ended up in the hands of Joseph Kony and his murderous
group the Lord's Resistance Army. I recently went to Uganda and met two
of the victims of Joseph Kony. He is a madman. He has used his beatific
visions to generate an Army of slaves, literally soldier slaves. I met
one of them, a young man who was dragged out of his African village in
Uganda.
Everybody was lined up at the village as Kony and his soldiers stood
around with their automatic weapons. They said to this young man: You
are going to join our army here or we are going to kill you. Before you
join the army, though, there is one thing we have to ask you: Who would
you spare among the members of your family here? We are going to kill
the rest of them. Which one would you spare?
The young man said, after some hesitation: My father. They walked
over and killed his father first. That is the kind of ruthless madman
we are dealing with in Joseph Kony. Believe me, President Obama has
recently put a target on his back. We are going after this man. We have
driven him out of Uganda. We believe he is in the Central African
Republic. I saw firsthand while visiting there what we are doing to
make sure his reign of terror comes to an end very quickly.
It turns out Kony's reign of terror has been fed and financed by the
Chinese demand for ivory. He is poaching ivory from the elephants,
slaughtering them in the area and using this ivory to keep his men in
arms and for their reign of terror to continue.
The Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act
has something for everyone to support. It is good for the American
economy, helps U.S. businesses create jobs, it is good for U.S. foreign
policy, keeps America in a position of global leadership. It is good
for the people of Africa by making superior American products and
services the standard in their future.
I urge my colleagues to sign on to support this important effort.
While we wait and do nothing, the Chinese are acting every single day
and America is falling further and further behind.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
[[Page S2595]]
S. 718
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 ``Increasing American Jobs
Through Greater Exports to Africa Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Export growth helps United States businesses grow and
create American jobs. In 2011, United States exports
supported 9,700,000 jobs and 97.8 percent of United States
exports came from small- and medium-sized businesses in 2010.
(2) The more than 20 Federal agencies that are involved in
export promotion and financing are not sufficiently
coordinated to adequately expand United States commercial
exports to Africa.
(3) The President has taken steps to improve how the United
States Government supports American businesses by mandating
an executive review across agencies and a new Doing Business
in Africa initiative, but a substantially greater high-level
focus on Africa is needed.
(4) Many other countries have trade promotion programs that
aggressively compete against United States exports in Africa
and around the world. For example, in 2010, medium- and long-
term official export credit general volumes from the Group of
7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the
United Kingdom, and the United States) totaled
$65,400,000,000. Germany provided the largest level of
support at $22,500,000,000, followed by France at
$17,400,000,000 and the United States at $13,000,000,000.
Official export credit support by emerging market economies
such as Brazil, China, and India are significant as well.
(5) Between 2008 and 2010, China alone provided more than
$110,000,000,000 in loans to the developing world, and, in
2009, China surpassed the United States as the leading trade
partner of African countries. In the last 10 years, African
trade with China has increased from $11,000,000,000 to
$166,000,000,000.
(6) The Export-Import Bank of the United States
substantially increased lending to United States businesses
focused on Africa from $400,000,000 in 2009 to $1,400,000,000
in 2011, but the Export-Import Bank of China dwarfed this
effort with an estimated $12,000,000,000 worth of financing.
Overall, China is outpacing the United States in selling
goods to Africa at a rate of 3 to 1.
(7) Other countries such as India, Turkey, Russia, and
Brazil are also aggressively seeking markets in Africa using
their national export banks to provide concessional
assistance.
(8) The Chinese practice of concessional financing runs
contrary to the principles of the Organization of Economic
Co-operation and Development related to open market rates,
undermines naturally competitive rates, and can allow
governments in Africa to overlook the troubling record on
labor practices, human rights, and environmental impact.
(9) As stated in a recent report entitled ``Embracing
Africa's Economic Potential'' by Senator Chris Coons,
``Economic growth in Africa has risen dramatically, but the
continent's vast economic potential has not yet been fully
realized by the U.S. Government or the American private
sector.''
(10) The African continent is undergoing a period of rapid
growth and middle class development, as seen from major
indicators such as Internet use, clean water access, and real
income growth. In the last decade alone, the percentage of
the population with access to the Internet has doubled.
Seventy-eight percent of Africa's rural population now has
access to clean water. Over the past 10 years, real income
per person in Africa has grown by more than 30 percent.
(11) Economists have designated Africa as the ``next
frontier market'', with profitability of many African firms
and growth rates of African countries exceeding global
averages in recent years. Countries in Africa have a
collective spending power of almost $9,000,000,000 and a
gross domestic product of $1,600,000,000,000, which are
projected to double in the next 10 years.
(12) In the past 10 years, Africa has been home to 6 of the
10 fastest growing economies in the world. Sub-Saharan Africa
is projected to have the fastest growing economies in the
world over the next 10 years, with 7 of the 10 fastest
growing economies located in sub-Saharan Africa.
(13) When countries such as China assist with large-scale
government projects, they also gain an upper hand in
relations with African leaders and access to valuable
commodities such as oil and copper, typically without regard
to environmental, human rights, labor, or governance
standards.
(14) Unless the United States can offer competitive
financing for its firms in Africa, it will be deprived of
opportunities to participate in African efforts to close the
continent's significant infrastructure gap that amounts to an
estimated $100,000,000,000.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to create jobs in
the United States by expanding programs that will result in
increasing United States exports to Africa by 200 percent in
real dollar value within 10 years.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Africa.--The term ``Africa'' refers to the entire
continent of Africa and its 54 countries, including the
Republic of South Sudan.
(2) African diaspora.--The term ``African diaspora'' means
the people of African origin living in the United States,
irrespective of their citizenship and nationality, who are
willing to contribute to the development of Africa.
(3) AGOA.--The term ``AGOA'' means the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
(4) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Foreign
Relations, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Financial Services, the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House of Representatives.
(5) Development agencies.--The term ``development
agencies'' includes the Department of State, the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID), the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States Trade and
Development Agency (USTDA), the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), and relevant multilateral development
banks.
(6) Trade policy staff committee.--The term ``Trade Policy
Staff Committee'' means the Trade Policy Staff Committee
established pursuant to section 2002.2 of title 15, Code of
Federal Regulations, and is composed of representatives of
Federal agencies in charge of developing and coordinating
United States positions on international trade and trade-
related investment issues.
(7) Multilateral development banks.--The term
``multilateral development banks'' has the meaning given that
term in section 1701(c)(4) of the International Financial
Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)(4)) and includes the
African Development Foundation.
(8) Sub-saharan region.--The term ``sub-Saharan region''
refers to the 49 countries listed in section 107 of the
African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3706) and
includes the Republic of South Sudan.
(9) Trade promotion coordinating committee.--The term
``Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee'' means the Trade
Promotion Coordinating Committee established by Executive
Order 12870 (58 Fed. Reg. 51753).
(10) United states and foreign commercial service.--The
term ``United States and Foreign Commercial Service'' means
the United States and Foreign Commercial Service established
by section 2301 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15
U.S.C. 4721).
SEC. 4. STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish a
comprehensive United States strategy for public and private
investment, trade, and development in Africa.
(b) Focus of Strategy.--The strategy required by subsection
(a) shall focus on--
(1) increasing exports of United States goods and services
to Africa by 200 percent in real dollar value within 10 years
from the date of the enactment of this Act;
(2) promoting the alignment of United States commercial
interests with development priorities in Africa;
(3) developing relationships between the governments of
countries in Africa and United States businesses that have an
expertise in such issues as infrastructure development,
technology, telecommunications, energy, and agriculture;
(4) improving the competitiveness of United States
businesses in Africa, including the role the African diaspora
can play in enhancing such competitiveness;
(5) exploring ways that African diaspora remittances can
help communities in Africa tackle economic, development, and
infrastructure financing needs;
(6) promoting economic integration in Africa through
working with the subregional economic communities, supporting
efforts for deeper integration through the development of
customs unions within western and central Africa and within
eastern and southern Africa, eliminating time-consuming
border formalities into and within these areas, and
supporting regionally based infrastructure projects;
(7) encouraging a greater understanding among United States
business and financial communities of the opportunities
Africa holds for United States exports;
(8) fostering partnership opportunities between United
States and African small- and medium-sized enterprises; and
(9) monitoring--
(A) market loan rates and the availability of capital for
United States business investment in Africa;
(B) loan rates offered by the governments of other
countries for investment in Africa; and
(C) the policies of other countries with respect to export
financing for investment in Africa that are predatory or
distort markets.
(c) Consultations.--In developing the strategy required by
subsection (a), the President shall consult with--
(1) Congress;
(2) each agency that is a member of the Trade Promotion
Coordinating Committee;
[[Page S2596]]
(3) the relevant multilateral development banks, in
coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the
respective United States Executive Directors of such banks;
(4) each agency that participates in the Trade Policy Staff
Committee;
(5) the President's National Export Council;
(6) each of the development agencies;
(7) any other Federal agencies with responsibility for
export promotion or financing and development; and
(8) the private sector, including businesses,
nongovernmental organizations, and African diaspora groups.
(d) Submission to Congress.--
(1) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to
Congress the strategy required by subsection (a).
(2) Progress report.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to
Congress a report on the implementation of the strategy
required by subsection (a).
(3) Content of report.--The report required by paragraph
(2) shall include an assessment of the extent to which the
strategy required by subsection (a)--
(A) has been successful in developing critical analyses of
policies to increase exports to Africa;
(B) has been successful in increasing the competitiveness
of United States businesses in Africa;
(C) has been successful in creating jobs in the United
States, including the nature and sustainability of such jobs;
(D) has provided sufficient United States Government
support to meet third country competition in the region;
(E) has been successful in helping the African diaspora in
the United States participate in economic growth in Africa;
(F) has been successful in promoting economic integration
in Africa; and
(G) has made a meaningful contribution to the
transformation of Africa and its full integration into the
21st century world economy, not only as a supplier of primary
products but also as full participant in international supply
and distribution chains and as a consumer of international
goods and services.
SEC. 5. SPECIAL AFRICA STRATEGY COORDINATOR.
The President shall designate an individual to serve as
Special Africa Export Strategy Coordinator--
(1) to oversee the development and implementation of the
strategy required by section 4; and
(2) to coordinate with the Trade Promotion Coordinating
Committee, (the interagency AGOA committees), and development
agencies with respect to developing and implementing the
strategy.
SEC. 6. TRADE MISSION TO AFRICA.
It is the sense of Congress that, not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Commerce and other high-level officials of the United States
Government with responsibility for export promotion,
financing, and development should conduct a joint trade
mission to Africa.
SEC. 7. PERSONNEL.
(a) United States and Foreign Commercial Service.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall ensure
that not less than 10 total United States and Foreign
Commercial Service officers are assigned to Africa for each
of the first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) Assignment.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with
the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee and the Special
Africa Export Strategy Coordinator, assign the United States
and Foreign Commercial Service officers described in
paragraph (1) to United States embassies in Africa after
conducting a timely resource allocation analysis that
represents a forward-looking assessment of future United
States trade opportunities in Africa.
(3) Multilateral development banks.--
(A) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall,
using existing staff, assign not less than 1 full-time United
States and Foreign Commercial Service officer to the office
of the United States Executive Director at the World Bank and
the African Development Bank.
(B) Responsibilities.--Each United States and Foreign
Commercial Service officer assigned under subparagraph (A)
shall be responsible for--
(i) increasing the access of United States businesses to
procurement contracts with the multilateral development bank
to which the officer is assigned; and
(ii) facilitating the access of United States businesses to
risk insurance, equity investments, consulting services, and
lending provided by that bank.
(b) Export-Import Bank of the United States.--Of the
amounts collected by the Export-Import Bank that remain after
paying the expenses the Bank is authorized to pay from such
amounts for administrative expenses, the Bank shall use
sufficient funds to do the following:
(1) Increase the number of staff dedicated to expanding
business development for Africa, including increasing the
number of business development trips the Bank conducts to
Africa and the amount of time staff spends in Africa to meet
the goals set forth in section 9 and paragraph (4) of section
6(a) of the Export-Import Bank of 1945, as added by section
9(a)(2).
(2) Maintain an appropriate number of employees of the Bank
assigned to United States field offices of the Bank to be
distributed as geographically appropriate through the United
States. Such offices shall coordinate with the related export
efforts undertaken by the Small Business Administration
regional field offices.
(3) Upgrade the Bank's equipment and software to more
expeditiously, effectively, and efficiently process and track
applications for financing received by the Bank.
(c) Overseas Private Investment Corporation.--
(1) Staffing.--Of the net offsetting collections collected
by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation used for
administrative expenses, the Corporation shall use sufficient
funds to increase by not more than 5 the staff needed to
promote stable and sustainable economic growth and
development in Africa, to strengthen and expand the private
sector in Africa, and to facilitate the general economic
development of Africa, with a particular focus on helping
United States businesses expand into African markets.
(2) Report.--The Corporation shall report to the
appropriate congressional committees on whether recent
technology upgrades have resulted in more effective and
efficient processing and tracking of applications for
financing received by the Corporation.
(3) Certain costs not considered administrative expenses.--
For purposes of this subsection, systems infrastructure costs
associated with activities authorized by title IV of chapter
2 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
231 et seq.) shall not be considered administrative expenses.
(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed as permitting the reduction of Department of
Commerce, Department of State, Export Import Bank, or
Overseas Private Investment Corporation personnel or the
alteration of planned personnel increases in other regions,
except where a personnel decrease was previously anticipated
or where decreased export opportunities justify personnel
reductions.
SEC. 8. TRAINING.
The President shall develop a plan--
(1) to standardize the training received by United States
and Foreign Commercial Service officers, economic officers of
the Department of State, and economic officers of the United
States Agency for International Development with respect to
the programs and procedures of the Export-Import Bank of the
United States, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation,
the Small Business Administration, and the United States
Trade and Development Agency; and
(2) to ensure that, not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act--
(A) all United States and Foreign Commercial Service
officers that are stationed overseas receive the training
described in paragraph (1); and
(B) in the case of a country to which no United States and
Foreign Commercial Service officer is assigned, any economic
officer of the Department of State stationed in that country
shall receive that training.
SEC. 9. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK FINANCING.
(a) Financing for Projects in Africa.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
foreign export credit agencies are providing non-OECD
arrangement compliant financing in Africa, which is trade
distorting and threatens United States jobs.
(2) In general.--Section 6(a) of the Export-Import Bank Act
of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635e(a)) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(4) Percent of financing to be used for projects in
africa.--The Bank shall, to the extent that there are
acceptable final applications, increase the amount it
finances to Africa over the prior year's financing for each
of the first five fiscal years beginning after the date of
the enactment of the Increasing American Jobs Through Greater
Exports to Africa Act of 2013.''.
(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years,
the Export-Import Bank shall report to the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Foreign
Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate
and the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives if the Bank has not used at least 10
percent of its lending capabilities for projects in Africa as
described in paragraph (4) of section 6(a) of the Export-
Import Bank of 1945, as added by paragraph (2). The report
shall include the reasons why the Bank failed to reach this
goal and a description of all final applications for projects
in Africa that were deemed unworthy of Bank support.
(b) Availability of Portion of Capitalization To Compete
Against Foreign Concessional Loans.--
(1) In general.--The Bank shall make available annually
such amounts as are necessary for loans that counter trade
distorting non-OECD arrangement compliant financing or
preferential, tied aid, or other related non-market loans
offered by other nations for which United States companies
are also competing or interested in competing.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years,
the Export-Import Bank shall submit to the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the
[[Page S2597]]
Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Financial
Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on
all loans made or rejected that were considered to counter
non-OECD arrangement compliant financing offered by other
nations to its firms. The report shall not disclose any
information that is confidential or business proprietary, or
that would violate section 1905 of title 18, United States
Code (commonly referred to as the ``Trade Secrets Act''). The
report shall include a description of trade distorting non-
OECD arrangement compliant financing loans made by other
countries during that fiscal year to firms that competed
against the United States firms.
SEC. 10. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
Section 22(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649(b))
is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting
``the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee,'' after
``Director of the United States Trade and Development
Agency,''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``regional offices of
the Export-Import Bank,'' after ``Retired Executives,''.
SEC. 11. BILATERAL, SUBREGIONAL AND REGIONAL, AND
MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS.
Where applicable, the President shall explore opportunities
to negotiate bilateral, subregional, and regional agreements
that encourage trade and eliminate nontariff barriers to
trade between countries, such as negotiating investor
friendly double-taxation treaties and investment promotion
agreements. United States negotiators in multilateral forum
should take into account the objectives of this Act. To the
extent any such agreements exist between the United States
and an African country, the President shall ensure that the
agreement is being implemented in a manner that maximizes the
positive effects for United States trade, export, and labor
interests as well as the economic development of the
countries in Africa.
Mr. COONS. I rise to thank Senator Durbin of Illinois for his
leadership on these vital issues. You just heard in the comments he
made the reach and scope of his vision. I am so impressed with the
breadth and depth of his engagement first on behalf of American
workers.
The Senator recognizes so clearly that 95 percent of the world's
consumers live outside our country, and we have to have a coordinated,
capable, competent export strategy in order to continue to access the
most promising, most rapidly growing markets in Africa. The 54
countries of the continent of Africa provide enormous opportunity as
their growing middle class, increasing access to their human and
mineral and natural resources create opportunities for us to grow jobs
in the United States.
Nearly 10 million new jobs are supported in the United States by
exports to the rest the world. But as Senator Durbin has wisely seen
and pointed out, our competitors are beating us in the race to access
these great opportunities. The Chinese, the Brazilians, the Russians,
the Indians, in every country on the continent they are present, they
are investing, and they are growing.
Senator Durbin rightly recognized that China has eclipsed the United
States as the leading trading partner for Africa. There are real
consequences for Africans and for African countries because, sadly,
often Chinese investments bring with them Chinese contractors, workers,
and a different approach to values: priority in terms of development, a
lack of focus on transparency, on human rights, on the environment. As
Senator Durbin detailed in his comments, the consequences can even be
so far-reaching as conservation and the impact on wildlife and the
ultimate consequences of supporting the worst actors on the continent,
folks such as Joseph Kony.
But let me turn, if I might briefly, to the bill which I am proud to
cosponsor with Senator Durbin, which focuses on trying to ensure that
more than 10 U.S. Government agencies responsible for export promotion
have a coordinated strategy. One of the principal points of Senator
Durbin's bill, which I am proud to cosponsor, challenges the executive
branch to sustain and increase our investment in the Foreign Commercial
Service, to sustain and increase our resources through entities such as
OPIC and Ex-Im and ask the executive branch to create a coordinator to
ensure that all of this is done responsibly and in a cost-effective
way.
Other things I mentioned in the trade report, which Senator Durbin
was kind enough to quote and to reference, are that in the United
States we have an enormous African community which can be strategically
vital as American businesses seek to access these growing opportunities
across the continent of Africa.
We also look to bolster support for agencies that finance U.S.
commercial engagement overseas. Our competitors--in particular, the
Chinese--have a very different approach to financing exports. The
United States needs to better coordinate and align to act as one
Nation.
The goal that is set in this legislation--a 200-percent increase--is
an ambitious goal. The goal is to increase U.S. exports to Africa in
the next 10 years. If we were to accomplish this goal in a cost-
effective way--through more responsibly coordinating the investments we
are already making in these Federal agencies to better coordinate the
private sector efforts of the United States--think of how many jobs we
might create, how many countries we might better connect to the United
States. Think of how many towns and workplaces across this country
would benefit.
I thank Senator Durbin today for his leadership, the clarity of his
vision, and the breadth of his engagement and investment of time.
Someone in his position has so many other issues on which he could be
investing his time. Over his entire service here in the Senate of the
United States, he has been passionate about clean water for the
continent of Africa and passionate about high-quality jobs for the
workers of the United States. In this bill he finds a way to make good
on both of those passions, improving the lives of Africans across a
growing continent and improving the lives of workers across our Nation.
I thank the Senator for his leadership, and I am proud to join him
today in cosponsoring this reintroduced bipartisan, soon-to-be
bicameral, commonsense bill. Let's hope all of our colleagues will help
to take it up and pass it in this Congress.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I would like to thank the Senator from
Illinois not only for the chance to help with this effort, but more
importantly for his steadfast work to strengthen our bond with the
countries of Africa.
We were on the floor last year talking about the importance of this
bill--the importance of creating a comprehensive trade strategy with
Africa. I know the Senator from Illinois made a valiant effort to get
our bill through at the end of the last Congress, but he ran into some
resistance. It is my hope that as we re-introduce this bill, we can
assuage any outstanding concerns and get this bill passed early in this
session.
As the Senator from Illinois stated, Africa is home to many of the
few emerging bright spots in a tough global economy. In fact, an
article from The Economist this week called it the ``hottest
frontier.'' They are right. Within the next decade, Africa will be home
to 7 of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world--Nigeria,
Ethiopia, Chad, Rwanda, Mozambique and Angola. The Economist article
pointed out that by 2020, more than half of African households will
have enough income to spend some on non-essentials and that within
three decades, the continent will have a larger working age population
than China.
When I served in the House, I was on the Africa Subcommittee and
traveled often to the continent. I still make trips there to visit with
their leaders and the top issue on every meeting agenda continues to be
trade. Many African leaders are very concerned about China's increasing
footprint in Africa and want the U.S. to be more engaged and involved
in their economies.
So, the eagerness and willingness to be good trade partners on the
part of African nations is there. They want our goods and services
because Africans know they are high quality. The desire for American
products, along with our ideals, is strong. The only thing missing is a
cohesive strategy on our end. That is what we are aiming to create with
this legislation.
This bill will develop a comprehensive strategy to create American
jobs by increasing exports of U.S. goods and services to Africa by at
least 200 percent in real dollar value over the next 10 years. It
increases our ability to help U.S. companies expand into African
markets without adding to our debt. So it is a win-win for our economy.
It will create jobs here at home
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and bring in additional income instead of increasing our debt.
When we talk about job creation, free and fair trade is a vital
component to a successful plan. Sixty percent of American exports came
from small and medium size businesses. That is huge. Small business is
the backbone of our economy. The bottom line is that trade equals jobs.
As I already mentioned, China is bullish on Africa. We need to be
too. China is outpacing us in exports to Africa by an alarming 3 to 1
pace. By 2009, China had surpassed us as the African continent's
largest trading partner. This bill lets us establish a plan that will
allow us to compete with nations like China that are already extremely
active in the African market. And that will help our small companies
create jobs.
My home State, Arkansas, stands to benefit greatly through the
creation of a comprehensive trade plan with Africa. Free and fair trade
is an important component to our State's economy. Arkansas exported
$5.6 billion in merchandise overseas in 2011, up 7 percent from the
previous year. In 2008, over 1,500 companies exported goods from
Arkansas. Over \1/3\ of exports were from small and medium-sized
businesses with fewer than 500 employees. An effective trade strategy
with African nations will help us build on that significantly.
So again, increased trade equals increased jobs at home. America
needs jobs. That is what this bill is about. That is why we need to
move it quickly in this session.
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