[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17415-17416]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               U.S. CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO IGNORE AFRICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, for the next week, Africa will be on page 1 
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 for good. However, what many Americans do not 
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 United States realizes that oil 
from the Middle East can easily fall prey to the vagaries of wars and 
politics.

[[Page 17416]]

  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 rainforests which 
have been described as the lungs of the world.
  We as Congresspeople 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 $1 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 plagues the continent and puts 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 terrorists 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, and if we continue to do it, 
it is at our own peril.
  Africa really matters in many ways. Not all of the news coming out of 
Africa is gloomy. Trade and investments with Africa are growing. U.S. 
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 the 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 the areas of agriculture, democracy, 
conflict resolution, trade, and investment have suffered from 
significant cutbacks. In short, Africa needs increased assistance if it 
truly is 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 do not 
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. action 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.

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