[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCING THE AFRICAN DESCENT AFFAIRS ACT IN RECOGNITION OF THE 
           INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
bill recognizing persons of African descent on the occasion of the 
December 10, 2014 launch of the International Decade for People of 
African Descent.
  As our country fights to realize justice for Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, 
Aiyana Jones, John Warner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and many 
others, we must not forget the names--Stephen Lawrence, Oury Jalloh, 
Mark Duggan, Zyed Benna, Bouna Traore, and many others--who are victims 
of similar injustices in Europe and elsewhere in the world.
  The International Decade provides an opportunity to join efforts with 
countries around the globe to, over the next 10 years, develop and 
implement national strategies honoring the vast contributions of people 
of African Descent and to combat continuing issues of prejudice and 
discrimination such as those currently gripping our nation.
  To aid these efforts, I have introduced the African Descent Affairs 
Act. The Act seeks to improve the situation of people of African 
descent around the world by establishing within our State Department a 
Global Office of African Descent Affairs to establish global foreign 
policy and assistance strategies for people of African descent. 
Furthermore, it creates a ``President Obama Fund'' to support anti-
discrimination and empowerment efforts by African descent-led civil 
society organizations, and requires annual State Department human 
rights reports to include a section on discrimination faced by people 
of African descent. U.S. foreign policy strategies such as these have 
improved the situation of vulnerable groups internationally and would 
greatly assist in responding to increasing levels of prejudice and 
discrimination faced by people of African descent around the globe.
  The International Decade reaffirms the importance of inclusion and 
the full and equal participation of people of African descent around 
the world in all aspects of political, economic, social, and cultural 
life. I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing and 
celebrating the collective history and achievements made by people of 
African descent on the occasion of the launch of the Decade by 
supporting the African Descent Affairs Act.

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