[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17224-17225]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 AFRICA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DIANE E. WATSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 2003

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Elijah Cummings, Chairman of 
the Congressional Black Caucus, for once again holding this very timely 
and important discussion on Africa.
  For the next week Africa will be page one news due to the President's 
trip to the continent. Then, once again, news on Africa will most 
likely recede to the back pages of our major newspapers and disappear. 
However, what many Americans don't realize is the increasing importance 
of Africa to the world and the United States.
  Americans now import more than one quarter of their oil from the 
African continent. In the coming years, due to new major oil 
discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa the 
percentage of African oil Americans consume will most likely rise. It 
will rise because there are quantities of untapped oil reserves on the 
continent, and it will rise because the U.S. realizes that oil from the 
Middle East can easily fall prey to the vagaries of war and politics.
  Africa is so important to us, in part, because it is a continent rich 
in natural resources. Copper, diamonds, gold, and wood are all in 
abundance throughout the continent. The Congo River itself has enough 
potential hydroelectric power to supply the electrical needs of the 
whole continent. And the continent still has abundant rain forests, 
which have been described as the lungs of the world.
  We as legislators can no longer afford to ignore Africa or view it 
solely through the lens of disaster and peril. Yes, we cannot deny that 
there are serious health problems in Africa with HIV/AIDS and malaria 
leading the list. There is crushing poverty throughout the continent. 
Africans living on less than a dollar a day now number over 315 
million, according to a recent World Bank survey. Serious conflicts in 
the Congo--where not thousands but millions have perished--and West 
Africa still plague the continent and put a serious drag on the 
development of human resources and capital.
  We cannot afford to ignore Africa because people are beginning to 
realize that failed states and crushing poverty are fertile breeding 
grounds for terrorist and criminal groups. We cannot afford to ignore 
Africa because the world is smaller and more interconnected. From the 
war on terrorism to the supply of crucial resources, from the campaign 
against threatening diseases to the opportunities for economic trade 
and investment, Africa is a key global player. We cannot afford to 
ignore Africa because we now ignore it at our own peril.
  Africa matters in many ways. Not all the news coming out of Africa is 
gloomy. Trade and investments with Africa are growing. U.S.

[[Page 17225]]

exports totaled over $5.8 billion last year, while U.S. imports were 
$18 billion. Nigeria alone is the fifth largest supplier of oil to the 
U.S. Despite appearances, Africa is more peaceful today than in the 
1980s and 1990s. Democracy is also taking root in many parts of Africa.
  But Africa needs increased resources to deal with the multitude of 
problems. U.S. assistance to Africa has been stagnant for many years, 
and real development assistance to the continent is less than $500 
million. Although total U.S. assistance to Africa may total about $2 
billion, a large chunk of this is for humanitarian and health related 
programs. Many programs--including in the areas of agriculture, 
democracy, conflict resolution, trade and investment--have suffered 
from significant cutbacks. In short, Africa needs increased assistance 
if it is truly to be brought into the mainstream world economy.
  The Congressional Black Caucus has been a staunch advocate and played 
a pivotal role in strengthening the cultural, political and economic 
ties between Africa and the United States. I am therefore concerned, 
but not surprised, that President Bush did not seek out the guidance 
and assistance of the CBC before making his sojourn to Africa. This is 
not surprising because, as our chairman recently noted, ``The President 
has declined all of our offers to meet with him since our last 
discussion of January 31, 2001.''
  In closing, I want to make a few remarks on the President's proposal 
to send in U.S. peacekeepers to Liberia. First, I recognize the 
longstanding historical ties between the U.S. and Liberia. I don't 
believe it will be as difficult to win the hearts and minds of 
Liberians who are predisposed to look upon the U.S. with favor. I 
generally support the concept of a peacekeeping mission to Liberia. 
However, I believe that a U.S.-led peacekeeping mission should be 
placed under the auspices of the United Nations. The United States by 
itself cannot be the policeman of the world, and our forces are already 
spread thin by our other significant commitments around the world. Any 
U.S. actions in Liberia will have greater credibility if they have the 
seal of approval of an international body.
  We must also think through very carefully our commitment to place 
U.S. forces in Liberia. We must have a mission that is clearly defined, 
and we must have an exit plan that is articulated and understood by the 
American public. I also believe that any plan to introduce U.S. forces 
in Liberia should be subjected to serious congressional oversight and 
approval.
  The Devil is in the details. The administration must first clearly 
articulate its methods and goals before any U.S. troops are put on the 
ground.

                          ____________________