[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H396-H400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ELECTRIFY AFRICA ACT OF 2015

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 2152) to establish a comprehensive United States Government policy 
to encourage the efforts of countries in sub-Saharan Africa to develop 
an appropriate mix of power solutions, including renewable energy, for 
more broadly distributed electricity access in order to support poverty 
reduction, promote development outcomes, and drive economic growth, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2152

       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 ``Electrify Africa Act of 
     2015''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to encourage the efforts of 
     countries in sub-Saharan Africa to improve access to 
     affordable and reliable electricity in Africa in order to 
     unlock the potential for inclusive economic growth, job 
     creation, food security, improved health, education, and 
     environmental outcomes, and poverty reduction.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to partner, consult, 
     and coordinate with the governments of sub-Saharan African 
     countries, international financial institutions, and African 
     regional economic communities, cooperatives, and the private 
     sector, in a concerted effort to--
       (1) promote first-time access to power and power services 
     for at least 50,000,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020 
     in both urban and rural areas;
       (2) encourage the installation of at least 20,000 
     additional megawatts of electrical power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa by 2020 using a broad mix of energy options to help 
     reduce poverty, promote sustainable development, and drive 
     inclusive economic growth;
       (3) promote non-discriminatory reliable, affordable, and 
     sustainable power in urban areas (including small urban 
     areas) to promote economic growth and job creation;
       (4) promote policies to facilitate public-private 
     partnerships to provide non-discriminatory reliable, 
     sustainable, and affordable electrical service to rural and 
     underserved populations;
       (5) encourage the necessary in-country reforms, including 
     facilitating public-private partnerships specifically to 
     support electricity access projects to make such expansion of 
     power access possible;
       (6) promote reforms of power production, delivery, and 
     pricing, as well as regulatory reforms and transparency, to 
     support long-term, market-based power generation and 
     distribution;
       (7) promote policies to displace kerosene lighting with 
     other technologies;
       (8) promote an all-of-the-above energy development strategy 
     for sub-Saharan Africa that includes the use of oil, natural 
     gas, coal, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and geothermal power, 
     and other sources of energy; and
       (9) promote and increase the use of private financing and 
     seek ways to remove barriers to private financing and 
     assistance for projects, including through charitable 
     organizations.

     SEC. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIYEAR STRATEGY.

       (a) Strategy Required.--
       (1) In general.--The President shall establish a 
     comprehensive, integrated, multiyear strategy to encourage 
     the efforts of countries in sub-Saharan Africa to implement 
     national power strategies and develop an appropriate mix of 
     power solutions to provide access to sufficient reliable, 
     affordable, and sustainable power in order to reduce poverty 
     and drive economic growth and job creation consistent with 
     the policy stated in section 3.
       (2) Flexibility and responsiveness.--The President shall 
     ensure that the strategy required under paragraph (1) 
     maintains sufficient flexibility for and remains responsive 
     to concerns and interests of affected local communities and 
     technological innovation in the power sector.
       (b) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
     transmit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
     and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report that

[[Page H397]]

     contains the strategy required under subsection (a) and 
     includes a discussion of the following elements:
       (1) The objectives of the strategy and the criteria for 
     determining the success of the strategy.
       (2) A general description of efforts in sub-Saharan Africa 
     to--
       (A) increase power production;
       (B) strengthen electrical transmission and distribution 
     infrastructure;
       (C) provide for regulatory reform and transparent and 
     accountable governance and oversight;
       (D) improve the reliability of power;
       (E) maintain the affordability of power;
       (F) maximize the financial sustainability of the power 
     sector; and
       (G) improve non-discriminatory access to power that is done 
     in consultation with affected communities.
       (3) A description of plans to support efforts of countries 
     in sub-Saharan Africa to increase access to power in urban 
     and rural areas, including a description of plans designed to 
     address commercial, industrial, and residential needs.
       (4) A description of plans to support efforts to reduce 
     waste and corruption, ensure local community consultation, 
     and improve existing power generation through the use of a 
     broad power mix, including fossil fuel and renewable energy, 
     distributed generation models, energy efficiency, and other 
     technological innovations, as appropriate.
       (5) An analysis of existing mechanisms for ensuring, and 
     recommendations to promote--
       (A) commercial cost recovery;
       (B) commercialization of electric service through 
     distribution service providers, including cooperatives, to 
     consumers;
       (C) improvements in revenue cycle management, power 
     pricing, and fees assessed for service contracts and 
     connections;
       (D) reductions in technical losses and commercial losses; 
     and
       (E) non-discriminatory access to power, including 
     recommendations on the creation of new service provider 
     models that mobilize community participation in the provision 
     of power services.
       (6) A description of the reforms being undertaken or 
     planned by countries in sub-Saharan Africa to ensure the 
     long-term economic viability of power projects and to 
     increase access to power, including--
       (A) reforms designed to allow third parties to connect 
     power generation to the grid;
       (B) policies to ensure there is a viable and independent 
     utility regulator;
       (C) strategies to ensure utilities become or remain 
     creditworthy;
       (D) regulations that permit the participation of 
     independent power producers and private-public partnerships;
       (E) policies that encourage private sector and cooperative 
     investment in power generation;
       (F) policies that ensure compensation for power provided to 
     the electrical grid by on-site producers;
       (G) policies to unbundle power services;
       (H) regulations to eliminate conflicts of interest in the 
     utility sector;
       (I) efforts to develop standardized power purchase 
     agreements and other contracts to streamline project 
     development;
       (J) efforts to negotiate and monitor compliance with power 
     purchase agreements and other contracts entered into with the 
     private sector; and
       (K) policies that promote local community consultation with 
     respect to the development of power generation and 
     transmission projects.
       (7) A description of plans to ensure meaningful local 
     consultation, as appropriate, in the planning, long-term 
     maintenance, and management of investments designed to 
     increase access to power in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (8) A description of the mechanisms to be established for--
       (A) selection of partner countries for focused engagement 
     on the power sector;
       (B) monitoring and evaluating increased access to, and 
     reliability and affordability of, power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa;
       (C) maximizing the financial sustainability of power 
     generation, transmission, and distribution in sub-Saharan 
     Africa;
       (D) establishing metrics to demonstrate progress on meeting 
     goals relating to access to power, power generation, and 
     distribution in sub-Saharan Africa; and
       (E) terminating unsuccessful programs.
       (9) A description of how the President intends to promote 
     trade in electrical equipment with countries in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, including a description of how the government of each 
     country receiving assistance pursuant to the strategy--
       (A) plans to lower or eliminate import tariffs or other 
     taxes for energy and other power production and distribution 
     technologies destined for sub-Saharan Africa, including 
     equipment used to provide energy access, including solar 
     lanterns, solar home systems, and micro and mini grids; and
       (B) plans to protect the intellectual property of companies 
     designing and manufacturing products that can be used to 
     provide energy access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (10) A description of how the President intends to 
     encourage the growth of distributed renewable energy markets 
     in sub-Saharan Africa, including off-grid lighting and power, 
     that includes--
       (A) an analysis of the state of distributed renewable 
     energy in sub-Saharan Africa;
       (B) a description of market barriers to the deployment of 
     distributed renewable energy technologies both on- and off-
     grid in sub-Saharan Africa;
       (C) an analysis of the efficacy of efforts by the Overseas 
     Private Investment Corporation and the United States Agency 
     for International Development to facilitate the financing of 
     the importation, distribution, sale, leasing, or marketing of 
     distributed renewable energy technologies; and
       (D) a description of how bolstering distributed renewable 
     energy can enhance the overall effort to increase power 
     access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (11) A description of plans to ensure that small and medium 
     enterprises based in sub-Saharan Africa can fairly compete 
     for energy development and energy access opportunities 
     associated with this Act.
       (12) A description of how United States investments to 
     increase access to energy in sub-Saharan Africa may reduce 
     the need for foreign aid and development assistance in the 
     future.
       (13) A description of policies or regulations, both 
     domestically and internationally, that create barriers to 
     private financing of the projects undertaken in this Act.
       (14) A description of the specific national security 
     benefits to the United States that will be derived from 
     increased energy access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (c) Interagency Working Group.--
       (1) In general.--The President may, as appropriate, 
     establish an Interagency Working Group to coordinate the 
     activities of relevant United States Government departments 
     and agencies involved in carrying out the strategy required 
     under this section.
       (2) Functions.--The Interagency Working Group may, among 
     other things--
       (A) seek to coordinate the activities of the United States 
     Government departments and agencies involved in implementing 
     the strategy required under this section;
       (B) ensure efficient and effective coordination between 
     participating departments and agencies; and
       (C) facilitate information sharing, and coordinate 
     partnerships between the United States Government, the 
     private sector, and other development partners to achieve the 
     goals of the strategy.

     SEC. 5. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR POWER 
                   PROJECTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA BY KEY UNITED 
                   STATES INSTITUTIONS.

       (a) In General.--In pursuing the policy goals described in 
     section 3, the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, the Director of the Trade and 
     Development Agency, the Overseas Private Investment 
     Corporation, and the Chief Executive Officer and Board of 
     Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation should, as 
     appropriate, prioritize and expedite institutional efforts 
     and assistance to facilitate the involvement of such 
     institutions in power projects and markets, both on- and off-
     grid, in sub-Saharan Africa and partner with other investors 
     and local institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including 
     private sector actors, to specifically increase access to 
     reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, including through--
       (1) maximizing the number of people with new access to 
     power and power services;
       (2) improving and expanding the generation, transmission 
     and distribution of power;
       (3) providing reliable power to people and businesses in 
     urban and rural communities;
       (4) addressing the energy needs of marginalized people 
     living in areas where there is little or no access to a power 
     grid and developing plans to systematically increase coverage 
     in rural areas;
       (5) reducing transmission and distribution losses and 
     improving end-use efficiency and demand-side management;
       (6) reducing energy-related impediments to business 
     productivity and investment; and
       (7) building the capacity of countries in sub-Saharan 
     Africa to monitor and appropriately and transparently 
     regulate the power sector and encourage private investment in 
     power production and distribution.
       (b) Effectiveness Measurement.--In prioritizing and 
     expediting institutional efforts and assistance pursuant to 
     this section, as appropriate, such institutions shall use 
     clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to measure the 
     effectiveness of such guarantees and assistance in achieving 
     the goals described in section 3.
       (c) Promotion of Use of Private Financing and Assistance.--
     In carrying out policies under this section, such 
     institutions shall promote the use of private financing and 
     assistance and seek ways to remove barriers to private 
     financing for projects and programs under this Act, including 
     through charitable organizations.
       (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to authorize modifying or limiting the portfolio of 
     the institutions covered by subsection (a) in other 
     developing regions.

     SEC. 6. LEVERAGING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT.

       In implementing the strategy described in section 4, the 
     President should direct the United States representatives to 
     appropriate international bodies to use the influence of the 
     United States, consistent with the broad development goals of 
     the United States, to advocate that each such body--
       (1) commit to significantly increase efforts to promote 
     investment in well-designed power sector and electrification 
     projects in sub-Saharan Africa that increase energy access, 
     in partnership with the private sector

[[Page H398]]

     and consistent with the host countries' absorptive capacity;
       (2) address energy needs of individuals and communities 
     where access to an electricity grid is impractical or cost-
     prohibitive;
       (3) enhance coordination with the private sector in sub-
     Saharan Africa to increase access to electricity;
       (4) provide technical assistance to the regulatory 
     authorities of sub-Saharan African governments to remove 
     unnecessary barriers to investment in otherwise commercially 
     viable projects; and
       (5) utilize clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to 
     measure the effectiveness of such projects.

     SEC. 7. PROGRESS REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to 
     the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate a report on progress made toward achieving the 
     strategy described in section 4 that includes the following:
       (1) A report on United States programs supporting 
     implementation of policy and legislative changes leading to 
     increased power generation and access in sub-Saharan Africa, 
     including a description of the number, type, and status of 
     policy, regulatory, and legislative changes initiated or 
     implemented as a result of programs funded or supported by 
     the United States in countries in sub-Saharan Africa to 
     support increased power generation and access after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) A description of power projects receiving United States 
     Government support and how such projects, including off-grid 
     efforts, are intended to achieve the strategy described in 
     section 4.
       (3) For each project described in paragraph (2)--
       (A) a description of how the project fits into, or 
     encourages modifications of, the national energy plan of the 
     country in which the project will be carried out, including 
     encouraging regulatory reform in that county;
       (B) an estimate of the total cost of the project to the 
     consumer, the country in which the project will be carried 
     out, and other investors;
       (C) the amount of financing provided or guaranteed by the 
     United States Government for the project;
       (D) an estimate of United States Government resources for 
     the project, itemized by funding source, including from the 
     Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the United States 
     Agency for International Development, the Department of the 
     Treasury, and other appropriate United States Government 
     departments and agencies;
       (E) an estimate of the number and regional locations of 
     individuals, communities, businesses, schools, and health 
     facilities that have gained power connections as a result of 
     the project, with a description of how the reliability, 
     affordability, and sustainability of power has been improved 
     as of the date of the report;
       (F) an assessment of the increase in the number of people 
     and businesses with access to power, and in the operating 
     electrical power capacity in megawatts as a result of the 
     project between the date of the enactment of this Act and the 
     date of the report;
       (G) a description of efforts to gain meaningful local 
     consultation for projects associated with this Act and any 
     significant estimated noneconomic effects of the efforts 
     carried out pursuant to this Act; and
       (H) a description of the participation by small and medium 
     enterprises based in sub-Saharan Africa on projects 
     associated with this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan 
F. Boyle) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include 
extraneous material on this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking this bill's Senate 
cosponsors. The Senate sponsors of the original measure are Bob Corker, 
chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and the ranking 
member, Mr. Cardin, as well as two other Senators, Marco Rubio and 
Chris Coons. I thank them for their good work to ensure this bill's 
Senate passage. We had our House version passed into the Senate.
  I also want to thank Ranking Member Eliot Engel, as well as Chairman 
Chris Smith, and Ranking Member Karen Bass of the Africa, Global 
Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations 
Subcommittee for working so closely with me to develop the concept for 
this legislation over the last several years.
  Last Congress, the House passed a similar version of the measure we 
consider today. With today's action, this bill will head to the 
President's desk for signature.
  The Electrify Africa Act seeks to address the massive electricity 
shortage in Africa. It is a direct response to the fact that today 600 
million people living in sub-Saharan Africa--that is 70 percent of the 
population--do not have access to reliable electricity. The Electrify 
Africa Act offers a market-based response to this problem, and it will 
bring about the development of affordable, reliable energy in Africa.
  Why do we want to help increase energy access to the continent? Well, 
to create jobs and to improve lives in both Africa and America. It is 
no secret that Africa has great potential as a trading partner and 
could help create jobs here in the U.S.
  As the Foreign Affairs Committee investigated how to make better use 
of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which was landmark 
legislation passed over a decade ago to expand trade with Africa, we 
learned that the lack of affordable, reliable energy made the 
production of goods for trade and export nearly impossible. Even where 
other conditions supported manufacturing, the cost of running a plant 
on a diesel generator is prohibited.
  However, the U.S. is not alone in its interest in enhancing trade 
with Africa. We have competition. Just last month, the People's 
Republic of China pledged $60 billion in financial support to the 
continent. If the United States wants to tap into this potential 
consumer base, we need to be aggressively building partnerships on the 
continent, which is what this bill does.
  This bill will also have a tangible impact on people's lives. As 
former chairman of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and 
International Organizations Subcommittee, I have seen firsthand how our 
considerable investments in improving access to health care and 
education in Africa are undermined by a lack of reliable electricity.
  Mr. Engel and I visited a power provider in rural Tanzania, which 
would help meet the goals of this bill, in a place where only 10 
percent of the population has access to electricity. In areas like that 
throughout Africa, schoolchildren are forced to study by inefficient, 
dangerous kerosene lamps. Cold storage of lifesaving vaccines is almost 
impossible without reliable electricity. Too many families resort to 
using charcoal or other toxic fuel sources whose fumes cause more 
deaths than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined and also damage the eyesight 
of the children trying to study.
  In Tanzania, we now have American entrepreneurs bringing new 
technology and management expertise to the remotest areas of Africa, 
and that is improving lives. Many of us on the committee have worked to 
transform our foreign assistance from programs that offer extensive 
Band-Aids to policies that support economic growth and independence. 
The Electrify Africa Act is part of this transition.
  This bill mandates a clear and comprehensive U.S. policy providing 
the private sector with the platform that it needs to invest in African 
electricity.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce, Subcommittee Chairman 
Smith, and Ranking Member Bass. I also want to thank our Senate 
colleagues, especially Chairman Corker and Ranking Member Cardin, for 
advancing this effort. We are now in a place to send this legislation 
to the President's desk.
  Mr. Speaker, across sub-Saharan Africa, more than 600 million 
individuals live without access to reliable electricity. That is double 
the U.S. population without electricity, nearly two-thirds of their 
population.
  For individuals, that deficit means never knowing what will happen 
with the flip of a switch. It means a day's work needs to come to an 
end at sunset, that food can't be refrigerated, and that technology 
that is so valuable for connecting to the rest of the world can't be 
relied upon.
  For communities, lack of access to power undermines the ability of 
hospitals to deliver health care because

[[Page H399]]

vaccines spoil and medical equipment sits useless. Businesses can't 
expand and thrive. Schools are limited in what they can offer students.
  For countries, these factors combine to undermine stability and 
stymie progress. Without reliable power, countries can't become strong 
players in the global economy or strong partners on the global stage. 
The better these countries do, the better it is for their neighbors, 
for their region, and for the entire world.
  As you can see, the United States has an interest in helping these 
countries grapple with this challenge and making sure the lights stay 
on. That is why the Electrify Africa Act is such an important bill.
  This legislation puts into law President Obama's 2013 Power Africa 
initiative. It seeks to create strong, new partnerships among 
governments, banks, and other private sector investors with the aim of 
providing first-time power to 50 million people by the year 2020. It 
calls for a long-term strategy from our own government for assisting 
sub-Saharan African countries with national power strategies, and it 
directs other American agencies to make assistance for power projects 
in sub-Saharan Africa a top priority. It helps bring American influence 
to bear around the world to encourage international bodies to bring a 
new focus on this challenge.
  Mr. Speaker, I fully support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to 
do the same.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on 
Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International 
Organizations.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for 
yielding.
  I want to congratulate Chairman Royce on the Electrify Africa Act as 
a companion bill to the legislation that we have before us today. We 
held a hearing in my subcommittee that Karen Bass will remember well in 
November of 2014. The blessings that will accrue from a huge effort to 
electrify Africa are almost without limit, especially when it comes to 
health care and ensuring that students can have proper light to go to 
school and to study, particularly at night. All of the benefits that we 
take for granted in the United States and in other parts of the world 
still have yet to come to Africa.
  In the 21st century, energy has become vital, as we all know, to 
modern societies. We no longer have to shop for food each day. 
Refrigerators keep food cold and preserved longer, whether in our 
homes, in restaurants, or during the process of transportation. Cell 
phones, computers, televisions, and other electronics require 
electrical power to allow us to lead more productive lives in the 
modern world and increasingly in the developing world.
  As we have seen in the recent Ebola epidemic and in the current Zika 
virus epidemic, it is vital that medicines and plasma be kept cold so 
that they don't lose their potency. Of course, in the preservation of 
blood and so many other items that are essential to life, electricity 
facilitates their continuance and their potency.

                              {time}  1715

  It is unfortunate that the continent of Africa has so many people who 
have been denied the ability to enjoy the advances of science. 
Currently, only 290 million people out of about 914 million Africans 
have access to electricity and the total number lacking continues to 
rise.
  Bioenergy, mainly fuel, wood, and charcoal, is still the major source 
of fuel, and as the chairman pointed out in his opening comments, it 
threatens the lives of so many people in Africa, including the eyesight 
of many of those who experience that.
  On the other hand, hydropower accounts for about 20 percent of the 
total power supply in the region, but less than 10 percent of its 
estimated potential has been realized. Persistent drought in some areas 
makes hydropower unpredictable.
  The Electrify Africa Act takes an all-of-the-above approach--all of 
these good prospects--in promoting the widest selection of sources of 
energy that includes all forms of fossil fuels, but also hydroelectric 
and renewable energy sources.
  This facilitates African nations to use all available energy sources. 
Coal, which is abundant in Africa, will be in the mix, and, hopefully, 
we can help them import clean coal technology to mitigate pollution.
  Again, I thank the chairman for this legislation.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), who is the ranking 
member of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human 
Rights, and International Organizations and who is a leader on sub-
Saharan Africa issues.
  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2152, the Electrify 
Africa Act.
  I commend the leadership and the work especially of our chair, Mr. 
Royce, of our ranking member, Mr. Engel, of our subcommittee chair, Mr. 
Smith, and also of our committed members and staffs of the House 
Foreign Affairs Committee as well as of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee on this critical bill.
  Because of this bill, the lives of millions of people can be changed 
immeasurably for the better.
  I remind my colleagues that two-thirds of the population of sub-
Saharan Africa live without electricity, particularly in the rural 
areas. This means that children are forced to study by candlelight and 
that doctors and midwives are delivering babies by relying on 
flashlights.
  The effort to devise an inexpensive, safe, and reliable source of 
power is being addressed not only in the small, brilliant initiatives 
by young African entrepreneurs, such as by those whom I met when I had 
the honor of traveling with President Obama to the 2015 Global 
Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi, but also in the large, innovative 
public-private partnerships, such as Power Africa.
  Electrify Africa can contribute to this effort in a major way by 
helping to address the glaring absence of electrical power for at least 
50 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020, thus improving the 
education, health care, and other basic needs of millions of Africans.
  The lack of access to power adversely affects broad-based economic 
development on the continent. This was particularly evident last year 
during the Ebola crisis in three small African countries.
  That battle was won with the help of the U.S. and with well-
coordinated regional efforts on the ground. Yet, in order to win the 
war against other crippling diseases, there must be greater access to 
electrical power.
  In working together, we have crafted legislation that will focus on 
increasing access to electricity in rural and poor communities through 
small, renewable energy projects that will result in at least millions 
of Africans having access to electricity for the first time in their 
lives by 2020.
  When we worked together last year to pass AGOA, we knew much more was 
needed in order to build the infrastructure that supported African 
nations in their ability to develop the capacity to become full trading 
partners with the United States.
  This legislation, along with AGOA, is consistent with the theme from 
the continent--trade, not aid--moving toward the continent of Africa's 
being self-sufficient and self-determined.
  I am proud to serve as an original cosponsor of this legislation, and 
I invite fellow Members to support this bill as well.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the 
balance of my time.
  I thank Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and the subcommittee 
chairman and ranking member.
  Sometimes the right thing to do is also in our strategic interests as 
a country, and this piece of legislation is a great example of that. I 
urge this body to pass it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I again thank all of this bill's cosponsors in the House and in the 
Senate as well as the House and Senate staffs, particularly Nilmini 
Rubin.
  I also thank Andy Olson, whose hard work has gotten us here today.

[[Page H400]]

  I also acknowledge Andrew Herscowitz--the USAID Power Africa's 
coordinator--and his team, who are watching this debate right now in 
the gallery.
  I think, as we look at the range of enthusiasm for this legislation, 
at the last count I took, we had letters of support from 35 African 
ambassadors, from the Chamber of Commerce, from the Corporate Council 
on Africa, from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 
from the American Academy of Pediatrics, and, of course, from the ONE 
Campaign.
  The United States has economic and national security interests in the 
continued development of the African continent. This bill sets out a 
comprehensive, sustainable, and market-based plan to bring 600 million 
Africans out of the dark and into the global economy, benefiting 
American businesses and workers at the same time and, frankly, saving 
lives at the same time.
  So I urge all Members to support the Electrify Africa Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of S. 2152 an 
important legislation.
  I support S. 2152 because it seeks to establish a comprehensive 
United States policy that encourages the efforts of countries in Africa 
to develop an appropriate mix of electricity solutions, including 
renewable energy, for more broadly distributed electricity access in 
order to support poverty reduction, promote development outcomes, and 
drive economic growth, and for other purposes.
  According to the World Bank, those living on $1.25 day in Africa 
accounted for 48.5% of the population in that region in 2010.
  Moreover, the U.S. Energy Information Administration statistics state 
that in 2011 the whole of Africa possessed only 78 gigawatts of 
installed generation capacity, of which South Africa accounted for 44 
gigawatts.
  By comparison, installed capacity in the United States alone was 
1,053 gigawatts.
  In other words, all of Africa has only 7% of the electric capacity of 
the United States.
  This is why S. 2152 is important, as it can be instrumental in 
helping to facilitate higher energy capacities in Africa.
  Furthermore, actual production capacity for Africa is likely to be 
substantially lower than the theoretical quantity because of inadequate 
maintenance, outmoded equipment and fuel shortages.
  Using per-capita data, a US citizen on average uses 12,461 kilowatt 
hours of electricity per annum; a citizen of Ethiopia uses 52.
  On average, only 30% of Africa's citizens have any access to electric 
electricity, and even where electricity is available, provision can be 
sporadic, with frequent electricity cuts and ``brown-outs.''
  For now, the continent remains largely dependent on hydroelectricity 
with 13 countries utilizing hydroelectricity for 60% or more of their 
energy.
  But, hydroelectricity relies on rain and Africa's rain fall is 
sporadic at best.
  The reliance on sporadic rainfall adversely impacts the effectiveness 
and accessibility to hydroelectricity sources.
  Energy is a key life blood of every economy and community.
  In addition to electricity in homes, the energy sector has been 
instrumental in creating millions of jobs, providing lighting to 
communities and healthcare centers, fueling our vehicles, increasing 
literacy and life expectancy.
  As an advocate for energy empowerment in Africa, I have championed 
energy brain trusts that are convened to serve as a platform for all 
relevant stakeholders from the energy sectors including coal, electric, 
natural gas, nuclear, oil and emerging energy sources such as wind, 
solar, hydroelectricity and turbine energy.
  I support the Electrify Africa Act as it will address the energy 
issues of the day.
  As you all may know, with enthusiasm, optimism and a collaborative 
spirit I partnered with my colleagues here in Congress and experts in 
other U.S. agencies such as USAID, which has been spearheading 
innovative energy initiatives through its inter-agency efforts.
  This legislation is important because it will increase the number of 
people with new access to electricity and electricity services.
  This legislation will improve and expand the generation, transmission 
and distribution of electricity.
  I support this legislation because it provides reliable electricity 
to people and businesses in urban and rural communities.
  It will address the energy needs of citizens living in areas where 
there is little or no access to electricity grids.
  It is also important because it will help develop plans to 
systemically increase coverage in rural areas.
  It will facilitate the reduction in transmission and distribution 
losses and improve end-use efficiency and demand-side management as 
well as end energy-related impediments to business productivity and 
investment.
  Additionally, this legislation will facilitate the capacity of 
countries in Africa to monitor appropriately and transparently the 
regulation of the power sector.
  It will also serve as an economic stimulator because it will 
encourage private investment in energy production and distribution.
  Overall, this legislation is important because it makes accessible a 
human necessity: electricity, which will dramatically improve the 
quality of life of children, women and men.
  Access to electricity will aid the mid-wife in successfully 
delivering a healthy child, while insuring the mother's successful 
recovery.
  Access to electricity, taken for granted in some parts of the world 
is critical in Africa because it will provide the light for a child to 
do his or her homework.
  Electricity gives Africa's future innovator, politician and teacher 
access to the internet: opening countless doors.
  I support this legislation because it will promote first-time access 
to electricity and electricity services for at least 50,000,000 people 
in Africa.
  This legislation will facilitate the installation of at least 20,000 
additional megawatts of electricity in Africa by 2020 in both urban and 
rural areas.
  When Africa succeeds the world succeeds and this is why I support 
this legislation and I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support 
across both chambers of the House.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 2152.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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