[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15354-15355]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  INTRODUCING ANSWER AFRICA'S CALL ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 30, 2005

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, America has before it a rare opportunity 
of historic and humanitarian proportion. The opportunity is so great, 
and the outcome so important, that we cannot, we must not, we will not 
see this as a Democrat or Republican issue. When it comes to meeting 
the challenge to end poverty in Africa, there is only America united.
  The President can assume command at the upcoming G-8 Summit in 
Scotland with bold steps to unite nations in this World of One War--
defeating the global enemy of poverty--which starves, maims and kills 
tens of thousands, mercilessly and indiscriminately, in Africa every 
day.
  Leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized countries will meet in 
Scotland to discuss making a long-term, multilateral commitment to 
fight poverty in sub Saharan Africa.
  Let America today shine brighter than the torch on the Statue of 
Liberty. Let America unite mankind to save humankind. Let the President 
stand up and demand--not discuss--action.
  Demand action, not because we are arrogant, but because we see the 
pain in Africa's faces and rush in compelled to act. Demand action, not 
because we are bullies, but because we are burdened by the grief of a 
billion people starving on one dollar a day. Demand action, not because 
we are the mightiest nation on earth but because the rivers of Africa 
flow with tears of sorrow over the dead and dying. And no amount of 
weaponry can stop the pain, only people can.
  The President can unify the world to fight this just and noble war 
against disease, malnutrition, and economic injustice in sub Saharan 
Africa.
  The richest nations on earth, which throughout history placed self 
interest ahead of Africa's interest cannot undo the past, but can make 
a bold commitment to the future. In one defining moment of courage and 
conviction, the President can unite the world to commit the financial 
and humanitarian resources that can begin to wipe out poverty in 
Africa.
  Mr. Chairman, more and more African oil fuels the engines of our 
global economy. The industrialized nations have a long history of 
extracting Africa's natural resources to fulfill our desires. From 
bauxite to diamonds, and from copper to cocoa, the world has fed off 
the resources of Africa, even as Africans starved before our eyes.
  While the world benefits from raw commodities found in Africa, 
nations, including the United States, have policies that keep Africans 
from adding value to these commodities that would benefit their 
continent and people. Rich nations benefit more from African materials 
than the Africans themselves do.
  For far too long our farm and trade regimes have hindered African 
development and injured the African people in countless ways. We have 
made progress improving trade laws in recent years; we are negotiating 
at the World Trade Organization now for ways to reform our farm 
programs which currently distort trade and deny opportunities to 
African farmers struggling to compete in a global economy. We have 
difficult work ahead on farm reforms, and more to do to provide access 
to our markets for African farm products. Many of Africa's agricultural 
products still face steep, insurmountable and unacceptable tariffs.
  But reducing tariffs and farm subsidies imposed by rich nations 
cannot begin to help Africa overcome the magnitude of its economic and 
humanitarian crisis. Investments in health and infrastructure are 
vitally necessary. We can help with these investments. And we can help 
in ways that improve outcomes for Africans.
  I am talking about the immediate and critical need for money in the 
form of assistance and financial aid, and let me say something that may 
shock some of you. I agree with the Heritage Foundation--not exactly a 
Democratic organization--when it points to the mis-steps and mishaps of 
the past. But haven't we learned from those mistakes? Weren't many of 
those mistakes made within the context of Cold War politics with 
priorities different than those we seek today?
  There were times when the best of intentions by nations, including 
America, ended up creating greed, not combating poverty. America has 
learned and so has the rest of the world. Today, there are 
organizations, systems and people above reproach. You need only look to 
the extraordinary work of the Gates Foundation in my District in 
Seattle to see what is possible and effective.
  Today, the only thing standing in the way of action is inaction, and 
we can change that. The need has never been greater and the time is now 
for America to lead the world to Answer Africa's Call.
  That is why, on behalf of Democrat Leaders today, introduce the 
Answer Africa's Call Act. The Act would create a five-year, $6 billion 
annual revenue stream that would fund the International Finance Fund, 
or the IFF. The new money from this legislation would not be subject to 
annual appropriations and would not increase the national debt This 
approach is brand new and it gives the President and the United States 
the freedom, flexibility and ability to make good on the necessary 
long-term commitment to combat poverty in Africa.
  This war cannot be won in a year and it cannot be held hostage to an 
annual budget process that may be blind to the ravages of hunger, deaf 
to the cries for help and immune from the scourge of disease.
  Mr. Chairman, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Commission on 
Africa proposed an agency to channel funds from the G-8 into programs 
proven effective at reducing poverty. The Commission's idea is a good 
one and a smart, multi-nation approach in Africa will pay huge 
dividends down the road.
  The Answer Africa's Call Act recognizes America's role and 
responsibility, and accepts it by giving the President an arsenal of 
aid and humanitarian weapons to attack poverty in Africa as never 
before, once and for all.
  Africa's poverty and economic desperation is the greatest tragedy of 
our time. By comparison, the world, and especially the United States, 
is wealthy on a scale never before been seen in human history.
  We live in a world where new medicines and medical techniques have 
eradicated many diseases and ailments in rich countries, even as Africa 
weeps while some four million children under the age of five die each 
year, two-thirds of them from illnesses which can be treated or wiped 
out for almost nothing.
  Malaria is the biggest single killer of Africa's children, and half 
those deaths could be avoided simply with access to diagnosis and drugs 
that cost about a $1 per dose.
  We live in a world where rich nations invested in successful research 
and development of drugs to combat and control one of the most 
devastating diseases ever seen, AIDS. Yet in Africa, where 25 million 
people are infected with AIDS, anti-retroviral drugs are not made 
generally available, meaning two million people will die of AIDS this 
year.
  Mr. Chairman, we live in a world where rich nations spend a billion 
dollars a day subsidizing the unnecessary production of unwanted food, 
while in Africa a billion people starve trying to survive on a dollar a 
day. Hunger is responsible for more deaths in Africa than all the 
continent's infectious diseases put together.
  Despite the rhetoric about how the United States has tripled aid for 
Africa, a Brookings Analysis shows that aid has roughly increased by 
only 50 percent since 2000. This is a good start, but we must do more. 
We contribute far less of our national income to foreign assistance 
than most developed nations. That is not meant as a slap against the 
President it is meant as a call to action. I am a medical doctor and 
bound by a sacred oath to act to save lives when I can.
  The G-8 meeting provides President Bush an extraordinary opportunity 
to demonstrate our commitment and determination to reduce poverty in 
Africa. Next week he could make America proud by declaring our 
unwavering support for the recommendations of the Commission on Africa 
at the G-8 Summit.
  Let America lead the world toward a common destiny: to end poverty 
across Africa. Let us act before another life is lost, before another 
child goes hungry, is born with HIV/AIDs, or is orphaned when parents 
die from hunger, disease or hopeless despair.
  Let us walk together on a road that leads to Africa's destiny, a 
continent where people no longer suffer and die from hunger and 
poverty. Let us resolve today to take the first of many steps, as one 
world, to end poverty in Africa, so that Africans may wake each day to 
a world where the sun shines on their hopes, dreams and future.
  Surely, America's compassion can shine across Africa. Unquestionably, 
America can lead a global fight against poverty in sub Saharan Africa. 
But we need the courage of our President. I implore him to act.

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