[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 106 (Wednesday, July 9, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H5886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                NIGERIA

  (Ms. BASS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make sure that we continue to 
address the threat of Boko Haram and to make sure we continue to work 
with the country of Nigeria.
  It has been over 2 months since Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 girls 
from their school in northern Nigeria. To many Americans, this was the 
first time they had heard of Boko Haram, even though the organization 
has been attacking, kidnapping, and killing innocent Nigerians since 
2009, but Nigeria is much more than Boko Haram.
  I recently traveled to Nigeria with Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker 
and 20 American companies on an energy business development trade 
mission. Nigeria is Africa's economic powerhouse that has incredible 
potential for partnership with American businesses.
  Nigeria recently surpassed South Africa as the largest economy in 
Africa, and with a population of nearly 170 million people, partnering 
with Nigerian businesses will benefit the American economy.
  Although we must continue our efforts to fight Boko Haram, we need to 
also make sure we engage Nigeria as our partner.

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