[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1061-S1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 538--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A SECOND UNITED STATES-
 AFRICA LEADERS SUMMIT AS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN TIES 
 BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND AFRICAN PARTNERS AND BUILD ON AREAS OF 
                            MUTUAL INTEREST

  Mr. RISCH (for himself and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 538

       Whereas meaningful and consistent high-level multilateral 
     engagement between the United States and Africa is necessary 
     for the foreign policy of the United States to keep pace with 
     the rapid transformation and demographic shifts in Africa and 
     to ensure that the United States understands and responds to 
     the dynamism and ambitions of its African partners;
       Whereas successive United States' Presidential 
     administrations and Congress have identified strategic 
     competition with the People's Republic of China, the Russian 
     Federation, and other malign actors as a threat to the 
     national security priorities of the United States that 
     requires building and maintaining networks of bilateral and 
     multilateral partners and allies, including countries in 
     Africa;
       Whereas the People's Republic of China, the European Union, 
     India, Japan, the Russian Federation, and Turkey, among 
     others, have held high-level summits with African leaders to 
     discuss policy priorities and deepen economic, political, and 
     security partnerships;
       Whereas, during August 4 through 6, 2014, President Barack 
     Obama hosted the first and only United States-Africa Leaders 
     Summit (referred to in this preamble as the ``2014 Summit'') 
     in Washington, D.C., with African leaders representing 50 
     countries, the African Union Commission, and various private 
     sector and civil society leaders under the theme ``Investing 
     in the Next Generation'';
       Whereas the 2014 Summit provided a forum for African 
     leaders to engage in frank exchanges with the Government of 
     the United States and congressional leaders, business 
     executives, and members of civil society regarding--
       (1) development and economic challenges;
       (2) trade, investment, and economic cooperation;
       (3) democracy, human rights, and governance; and
       (4) peace and regional security;
       Whereas, on February 5, 2021, at the 34th Ordinary Session 
     of the African Union Assembly, President Joseph R. Biden, 
     Jr., outlined the vision of his administration for a United 
     States-Africa partnership to strengthen relationships and 
     build on mutual interests and respect with the governments, 
     people (including people of the African Diaspora), and 
     regional multilateral institutions of Africa;
       Whereas, on November 19, 2021, during a speech to the 
     Economic Community of West African States in Abuja, Nigeria, 
     Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United 
     States would host a second United States-Africa Leaders 
     Summit ``to drive the kind of high-level diplomacy and 
     engagement that can transform relationships and make 
     effective cooperation possible''; and
       Whereas a well-organized and resourced second United 
     States-Africa Leaders Summit, with an established mechanism 
     for continuity and follow-up, will create a platform upon 
     which the United States and African partners can better 
     structure United States-Africa relationships, deliver on 
     commitments, solve problems, and work together as partners on 
     areas of mutual interest: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the administration of President Joseph R. 
     Biden, Jr., hosting a second United States-Africa Leaders 
     Summit (referred to in this resolution as the ``Summit'') as 
     a vital opportunity to strengthen ties between the United 
     States and African partners;
       (2) underscores the importance of bipartisan, bicameral 
     congressional participation in the Summit;
       (3) commits to working with the heads of state, civil 
     society, private sector, and the African Diaspora to build 
     stronger ties with the United States and pursue mutual 
     interests; and

[[Page S1063]]

       (4) urges the Biden administration--
       (A) to conduct adequate and diverse consultation with 
     African leaders, the African Diaspora, educational 
     institutions, private sector and civil society organizations 
     of the United States and Africa, and public policy 
     institutions in planning the Summit;
       (B) to consider hosting the Summit in a location outside of 
     Washington, D.C., that will--
       (i) draw broad participation from State governors and high-
     level corporate leadership in the United States; and
       (ii) clarify that the private sector, rather than 
     governments, is the primary driver of the commercial 
     relationship between the United States and African countries;
       (C) to consider facilitating trips by African leaders to 
     other cities in the United States and inviting like-minded 
     partners from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Western 
     Hemisphere to participate as observers;
       (D) to ensure that sessions focused on trade and investment 
     between the United States and Africa include adequate 
     facilitation of business-focused deal-making with African 
     governments, the African Diaspora, and private sector through 
     Prosper Africa and other similar initiatives;
       (E) to include a theme for the Summit that focuses on 
     shared democracy, governance, and human rights concerns and 
     priorities;
       (F) to create opportunities during the Summit for direct 
     congressional engagement and to ensure the participation of 
     multiple cabinet members, including members who do not 
     traditionally work on foreign policy, trade, and investment;
       (G) to hold bilateral one-on-one presidential engagements 
     during the Summit to build stronger personal relationships 
     with African leaders while also solidifying commitments and 
     areas of mutual interest;
       (H) to issue a formal declaration or communique after the 
     Summit describing commitments and a roadmap for future 
     engagement; and
       (I) to create a formal mechanism, with appropriate funding 
     and personnel resources, to track and follow up on the 
     implementation of pledges made at the Summit and build upon 
     such commitments for future summits.

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