[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17775]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   SUPPORTING THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2003

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, recent events call our attention 
to the continent of Africa. The people of Africa are suffering and in 
pain. Africa is a continent which contains immense natural resources 
and is populated by people that are of diverse rich cultures. And yet, 
they are dying from the rampant spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. Civil war 
has wounded them and put their lives in chaos. The lives of their 
children are plagued by drought, famine and diseases.
  Mr. Speaker, in 2001, the HIV/AIDS virus infected approximately 3.5 
million Africans, an estimated 2.2 million Africans died due to the 
virus and approximately 11 million African children were orphaned 
because they lost their parents to the virus. It is predicted that many 
more Africans will be infected and die due to the virus if something is 
not done quickly to help Africans with prevention, treatment and health 
care programs. We have begun the task of aiding Africa in combating 
this virus, with the $15 billion HIV/AIDS package the President 
recently signed into law on May 27, 2003.
  But more needs to be done. If Africans do not die due to the HIV/AIDS 
virus, they may die due to civil wars that plague many African 
countries today. In the country of Liberia, the people have endured and 
suffered bloody civil war and unrest for the past 13 years. Liberians 
have been killed in horrendous numbers because of this war. In one day 
in June of this year, over 300 civilians were killed and over 1000 were 
injured. This war is destroying the future of many Liberian children 
who are forced to become brutal soldiers at such young ages. Civilians 
have been executed, tortured and raped. Half of the population escaped 
to refugee camps in neighboring countries, where due to overcrowding, 
food, water and health provisions are limited. This has placed 
tremendous burdens on Liberia's caring neighbors.
  We as a nation must assist the people of Liberia. We must help them 
to reverse the deterioration of their country. But we should not do 
this alone. France, Germany, Great Britain and Belgium have worked 
together with the United Nations to send troops to help with 
peacekeeping efforts in the conflict in Africa's Republic of Congo. By 
joining efforts with the United Nations, we can provide even more 
support and make it easier for the country of Liberia to rebuild itself 
into a strong, stable and lasting governmental infrastructure, knowing 
that all nations are behind them. Having the involvement of other 
countries, working together to contribute to the peacekeeping effort in 
Liberia, will prevent our troops from being overextended.
  Mr. Speaker, we have done a lot to help Africa to grow, as many of 
its nations are reborn from various political, economic and social 
adversities. But it is not enough; we need to do more to help countries 
in the continent of Africa with peacekeeping solutions. Having a steady 
government is a good foundation. It is needed to help establish and to 
manage international support and reconstruction programs, which are 
beneficial to the citizens of a country. Many programs we fund are 
beneficial to the continent of Africa. For instance, funding that we 
provide to Africa for agricultural productivity accounts for a 
substantial portion of African countries' GDP, employment, household 
and national incomes; and foreign exchange revenues, will help feed 
many African people and empower them to manage their natural resources. 
The end result will be a marked decrease in the level at which Africans 
are dying due to starvation. Also, funding we provide them for 
business, trade and investment programs will help African countries 
economically by making them self sufficient. The time has come for the 
U.S. to give back to a continent that feeds our great nation in the 
sharing of its cultures, its science, its history and its natural 
resources. Mr. Speaker, this strengthens the partnership that we have 
with Africa.

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