[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 21534-21537]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2009, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be 
given 5 legislative days to enter remarks into the Record on this 
topic.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FUDGE. Certainly I appreciate the opportunity to join my 
colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus, the CBC, for this Special 
Order. Currently, the CBC is chaired by the Honorable Barbara Lee from 
the Ninth Congressional District of California.
  My name is Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, and I represent the 11th 
Congressional District of the State of Ohio. CBC members are advocates 
for the human family nationally and internationally and have played a 
significant role as local and regional activists. We continue to work 
diligently to be the conscience of the Congress, but understand all 
politics are local. Therefore, we provide dedicated and focused service 
to the citizens of the congressional districts we serve.
  The vision of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, 
to promote the public welfare through legislation designed to meet the 
needs of millions of neglected citizens, continues to be a focal point 
for the legislative work and political activities of the Congressional 
Black Caucus.
  As Members of Congress, CBC members also promote legislation to aid 
neglected citizens throughout the world. We understand that the United 
States, as a bellwether, has the ability to positively impact our 
neighbors abroad.
  The United States is a leader in advocating for the underprivileged 
at home and abroad. Americans understand that if we uplift others, then 
we, too, will be advanced.
  With this in mind, tonight's CBC hour will focus on poverty reduction 
and the economic, social and political outlook for the continent of 
Africa. Specifically, I will discuss increasing access to both 
education and financial services in Africa.
  As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I know well the 
far-reaching effects of education on individuals' quality of life and a 
nation's economic competitiveness. In the context of improving 
developing nations such as many African countries, the basic education 
offers the hope of a more prosperous world.
  The benefits of basic education are innumerable. For instance, we 
know that when all citizens receive a good education, their nation's 
economic prosperity is increased, preventable illness is decreased, 
democratic ideals are spread, violent conflicts are reduced, and women 
are able to advance further than if they were discouraged from pursuing 
their studies.
  Mr. Speaker, I see we have been joined by our Chair, the Honorable 
Barbara Lee from California. I would now like to yield to the 
gentlelady, Mr. Speaker.
  Ms. LEE of California. Let me thank the gentlelady for yielding and 
also for organizing once again the voice of the Congressional Black 
Caucus. Thank you so much, Congresswoman Fudge, for continuing to raise 
the critical issues that our entire country must address at this moment 
in our history, and thank you so much for having a focus tonight on the 
continent of Africa, which is often forgotten.
  Africa faces numerous challenges, which you mentioned earlier, but 
also enormous opportunities, and the promotion and the strengthening of 
the United States-Africa relationship is really vital to realizing the 
progress that's being made in addressing enduring crises related to 
food insecurity, the devastating health pandemic, such as HIV and AIDS, 
and the growing rates of inequality and poverty. Also, the economic 
prosperity.
  As Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am proud to point out 
that the Congressional Black Caucus is privileged to draw upon the 
wisdom and the expertise of our colleague on the House Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, Congressman Donald Payne of New Jersey. Congressman 
Payne is more than a member, however; he is a resident expert on 
Africa. He understands the continent and each country on the continent.
  He is the Chair of the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee. He is 
recognized on the continent of Africa as being a person who seeks 
global peace and security every step of the way. He is also the leader 
of our Congressional Black Caucus International Affairs Task Force.
  The Congressional Black Caucus also is ably represented on the 
Foreign Affairs Committee by Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York; 
Congresswoman and former ambassador Diane Watson of California; 
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas; and also Congressman David 
Scott of Georgia.
  President Obama has likewise demonstrated a clear commitment to turn 
the corner in Africa, most notably with his announcement of a 
government-wide United States review of the U.S. Global Development 
Policy. Also, a renewed $3.5 billion food security initiative. And also 
we must remember his very stern and forthright speech in Ghana, where 
he asserted America's responsibilities to help advance a brighter 
future in Africa with action, not just with words.
  Further, Secretary of State Clinton's recent visit to Africa brought 
much needed attention to the global fight against HIV and AIDS, 
violence against women, trade opportunities with the continent, and all 
of the development and aid issues which the Department of State is 
responsible for.
  Despite such a positive outlook for our administration's strategy, 
the persistence of health pandemics, chronic food insecurity, a global 
economic crisis, and a looming threat of climate change continues to 
threaten the livelihood of millions of individuals across Africa each 
and every day. There are currently more people going hungry in

[[Page 21535]]

the world than ever before. According to the United Nations' Food and 
Agriculture Organization, almost a sixth of the world's population, or 
1 billion individuals, are now undernourished.
  Encouraging sustainable, long-term development will require a 
significant contribution from the United States and international 
partners. Recent estimates indicate that it will cost $500 billion to 
$600 billion for the next 10 years to allow developing nations such as 
those in Africa to grow, using renewable energy sources rather than 
relying on dirty fuels.
  Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and its International 
Affairs Task Force under the leadership of Chairman Payne have long 
been a leading voice in Congress in calling for the United States to 
provide support for adaptation and sustainable development abroad, as 
well as assistance to ensure affordable access to emerging clean 
technologies.
  The reality is that any strategy to combat global warming and climate 
change will need to include meaningful and equitable action on the 
international level. The scale of these challenges reflects the urgency 
of our efforts here in Congress.
  The goal of the Congressional Black Caucus is to find and fund long-
term, sustainable solutions to these threats at the household, 
community, and national levels.
  Despite this great moral imperative, the United States continues to 
spend a disproportionately small amount of funding on nonmilitary 
foreign affairs programs. Most people in our country think that we 
spend a large portion of our budget on foreign affairs, but we just do 
not do that.
  Instead of spending a staggering 52 percent of the Federal 
discretionary budget on an inflated defense budget for the Pentagon, 
that continues to invest in Cold War-era weapons systems to the tune of 
about $100 billion for, really, an enemy that does not exist, we should 
be investing in diplomacy and development activities that will help 
bring stability to nations on the brink of collapse and conflict. That 
is the essence of how we ensure our own national security.
  That's why I have introduced H. Con. Res. 63, a resolution calling 
for an increase in nonmilitary foreign assistance to an amount equal to 
no less than 1 percent of GDP. It's hard to imagine we're not even at 1 
percent yet.
  Foreign assistance programs are essential in promoting national 
security and improving the credibility and standing of the United 
States in the world. To that end, our Congressional Black Caucus will 
continue to work to develop clear goals and strategies for alleviating 
poverty, improving global health, and encouraging sustainable 
development, particularly in Africa. We will also continue to 
strengthen America's foreign assistance and diplomatic capacities, 
which is critical to this effort.
  In noting the critical role of the United States in Africa, I must 
also speak out with regard to our responsibility to urgently seek peace 
for the residents of Darfur and the Sudan. When it comes to Darfur and 
the Sudan, it's important to recognize that the people of Sudan's 
desire for a just and longstanding sustainable peace has been crushed 
repeatedly by one of the most brutal regimes in the world.
  More than 2 million South Sudanese have died in the 21-year war, and 
suffered countless atrocities, mostly committed by the same regime in 
Khartoum.

                              {time}  2130

  That's why it's so important to do the right thing now, which is to 
support the International Criminal Court in its efforts to hold Sudan's 
President Bashir accountable for his crimes against humanity. And let 
me tell you, they are crimes against humanity. I have visited the 
refugee camps on three occasions and witnessed the effects of genocide 
that were taking place right in front of my eyes. I tell you, we cannot 
lift sanctions at this point. We have to keep the pressure on to help 
make sure that people in the Sudan are protected and that the 
humanitarian assistance gets to them and gets to them immediately.
  The Congressional Black Caucus under Congressman Payne's leadership 
was instrumental. We encouraged President Obama to appoint a special 
envoy for Sudan who is fully empowered and resourced to focus on Sudan 
as a whole and with special attention to the ongoing genocide in 
Darfur, the full implementation of the CPA and the humanitarian crisis.
  I have to applaud and thank President Obama for appointing Major 
General Gration as the special envoy for Sudan because General Gration, 
who I met the first time I was in Sudan, is really uniquely qualified 
to undertake this critically important post. I know that I speak for 
all of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus when I say that 
we look forward to working with the special envoy to move us past the 
current stalemate, to end the genocide in Darfur and to bring peace to 
the long-suffering people of the Sudan. These are just a few--and I 
mean just a few--of the many critical issues with which the 
Congressional Black Caucus is taking a leading role.
  The continent of Africa is strong. It's resilient. The Congressional 
Black Caucus is committed to working with our colleagues here in 
Congress to enact policies which support African nations in their 
efforts to ensure good governance, to prevent violence and conflict, 
and to provide a foundation for future stability, human development and 
sustainable economic growth.
  So thank you again, Congresswoman Fudge, for this evening and for 
giving us the chance to, once again, speak our minds and tell the 
American people what the Congressional Black Caucus not only continues 
to work on but also to encourage their support for many of the policies 
and the funding initiatives that we have been long calling for for 
many, many years. Thank you.
  Ms. FUDGE. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Speaker, I would just very 
much like to thank our Chair for being here at every Special Order, for 
the support that she has given to me personally but, more importantly, 
for the leadership she gives to the CBC. I thank you, Madam Chair, for 
being here.
  Mr. Speaker, if I may continue, I wanted to just talk about the 
economic prosperity on the African continent. Many African countries do 
still, indeed, struggle to achieve economic sustainability and growth. 
This pursuit is undermined in part by the large number of citizens who 
have not received a basic education. Not a single economically viable 
nation achieved its prosperity without implementing near universal 
primary education. Additionally, education increases a Nation's gross 
domestic product. Adults with a primary school education earn twice as 
much as adults without any schooling.
  In the areas of health, education and behavior changes are also the 
most effective way to address preventible diseases, including smallpox, 
tuberculosis, diarrhea and other water-borne illnesses. According to 
some estimations, if all children completed primary education, 700,000 
new cases of AIDS and HIV could be prevented each year.
  We also need to improve the political stability and reduce conflict. 
Education and the free exchange of ideas also encourages democratic 
styles of government. When citizens are well informed, they are more 
likely to participate in their democracy. As it relates to violent 
conflicts, education that teaches tolerance, the value of each 
individual, and respect for different beliefs is the best method to 
reduce violence and extremism.
  Basic education provides girls and women with expanded employment 
opportunities, which is important for the overall advancement of 
families. Women's employability is especially crucial if they are the 
family's sole support. Children of educated women are in better health 
and are twice as likely to be enrolled in school.
  Mr. Speaker, 75 million children worldwide are not at school; 55 
percent of them are girls. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly one-
half of the world's school-age children who are not enrolled in school. 
Twelve percent of the developing world's primary school-

[[Page 21536]]

age population is not in school; more than 80 percent of them are in 
rural areas, and the vast majority are poor. Globally, 134 countries 
account for two-thirds of the out-of-school children, and current 
projections show that those countries will have 29 million out-of-
school children by the year 2015.
  Among African nations, there are various barriers to basic education. 
The lack of school buildings, shortage of teachers, prohibitive 
compulsory fees, and unique challenges faced by girls all limit many 
Africans' abilities to access formal education. However, these 
challenges are not insurmountable. Nearly 80 million new places of 
instruction must be created in order for all school-age African 
children to be accommodated. This will be a large undertaking, to say 
the least.
  I applaud African governments for making progress towards the goals 
advanced in the Dakar Framework for Action in 2000. That framework was 
a statement signed by 164 countries during the 2000 World Education 
Forum stating that their commitment to universal education was strong. 
But without diligent support from the international community, these 
great goals will remain elusive.
  In addition to the need for new schools, it is estimated that an 
additional 3 million teachers are needed in Africa in order for the 
continent to reach its goal of universal education by the year 2015. In 
Nigeria, which is the most populous country in Africa, there is a 
shortage of 1 million teachers.
  Not only are workforce shortages caused by the difficulty to obtain 
thorough education, the availability of teachers on the continent is 
also impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The disease, itself, has robbed 
education systems of manpower and knowledge and continues to drive up 
cost. In a report released by the World Bank in 2002, an estimated 
860,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa lost teachers to AIDS in 1999. 
In some cases where there has been an increase in class enrollment, the 
loss of one teacher can affect hundreds of students. The cost of 
replacing these instructors is prohibitive for many countries. If the 
nation of Swaziland hired and trained enough staff to replace the 
teachers lost to HIV and AIDS, the estimated cost would be $233 
million, more than half of the government's budget for 2001-2002.
  Again, there are too many primary and secondary schools in the 
developing world that are forced to rely on student fees to supplement 
government funding. These fees, while modest by American standards, 
often prevent children from enrolling. Similarly, some families cannot 
afford the uniforms commonly required by the schools.
  In 2003, Kenya eliminated primary school fees in a step towards 
universal primary education for its entire population. In Kenya alone, 
1.5 million students who had not previously attended school then 
enrolled, increasing the average class size from 40 to 120. Kenya took 
a step in the right direction, but these actions must be coupled with 
greater investment by local governments and donors to address the 
issues of quality that arise when access to education is increased.
  While this statistic represents an improvement in the rate of primary 
school enrollment during the early nineties of over 10 percent, we 
should also be aware that the problems still remain. In countries such 
as Djibouti, Ethiopia, Niger and Mali, less than half of all school-age 
children go to school, and there is a disparity in enrollment rates 
between boys and girls. Forty-two percent of girls as opposed to 38 
percent of boys are out of school.
  As the international community and donors discuss the importance of 
quality education, we must remember the vast numbers of teachers who 
will need to be trained and what this means to the international 
partners who work with African governments and civil society groups. 
Education is a long-term path to economic viability. Stimulating small 
businesses through microlending is another method of improving the 
economies of developing nations, which will ultimately lead to expanded 
trade and business opportunities for all of the world.
  I and several Members recently returned from a congressional 
delegation to Tunisia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Senegal. Our goal was to 
educate Members on the impact that the global financial crisis has had 
on the continent of Africa. Additionally, we examined the regional 
impact of multilateral development banks, international financial 
institutions, and the International Monetary Fund.
  The codel spent significant time examining the effect of the global 
economic crisis on local economies. We were especially interested in 
how the multilateral development banks and the United States supports, 
particularly the African Development Bank, are helping countries to 
obtain grants, loans and technical assistance. We also explored the 
role and impact of the IMF on the region during this period of economic 
crisis.
  Africa is of increasing strategic interest to the global economy. The 
continent is expected to soon provide the United States with more 
petroleum than the Middle East. Again, I will repeat. The continent of 
Africa is expected to soon provide the United States with more 
petroleum than we get from the Middle East.
  Several reports state that more than half of all Africans are 
estimated to live on a dollar or less a day. The nations we visited 
were interested in help up, not a handout. Well-intentioned countries 
and organizations have poured billions of dollars into improving 
conditions for Africans, but their efforts have repeatedly failed to 
stimulate large-scale sustainable growth. This is, in part, because 
many of these groups do not fully incorporate local traditions, values 
and attitudes into their assistance programs. Assistance can only be 
successful if it is culturally sensitive and adapts to the needs of the 
local community.
  The direct impact of the global crisis on Africa, however, has been 
relatively contained. Many African nations have not been severely 
affected by the crisis since African banks generally are not well 
integrated into the global financial system. Nonetheless, African 
countries still are at risk of indirect adverse effects, such as 
reduced worldwide demand for African exports, a dampening of economic 
growth, a tightening of credit, and reduced remittance flows. Despite 
these setbacks, Mr. Speaker, African countries can greatly benefit from 
programs that both encourage productivity and promote economic 
independence.
  Access to formal financial services is a key component of economic 
development. One method to facilitate development is microfinance. 
Microfinance is when banking institutions or even individuals grant 
small loans to other individuals, usually to establish or expand a 
small or self-sustaining business. When individuals gain access to 
credit, they can start a business, hire their neighbors, and stimulate 
local economic growth. For example, a loan made to a woman to buy a 
sewing machine can yield an income when she offers her sewing and 
tailoring services. Or if a loan helps a family purchase a cow, the 
milk produced from the cow can generate both nourishment and income.
  The average microfinance loan amount ranges from $50 to $5,000, and 
the repayment cycle can range from 90 days to 18 months. Repayment of 
microfinance loans is 98 percent compared to regular business loans by 
traditional lenders. Official microfinance organizations are currently 
only reaching 5 to 8 percent of the businesses who are in dire need of 
loans. Access to credit for the poor is in dire need as well. 
Microfinancing institutions also provide access to savings accounts.
  Microfinance has proven to be successful because of its ability to 
reach the poor, especially women with highly sustainable programs that 
have a positive impact. As the United Nations Office of Special Adviser 
on Africa reports, women are a better credit risk than men and more 
responsible managers of meager resources. Furthermore, women are, and I 
quote, more committed to using their loans for the benefit of their 
household rather than self-gratifying consumption, as is common among 
many African men. Empowering women sets families on the

[[Page 21537]]

path toward economic independence. This case study demonstrates how 
microfinance can help alleviate poverty.
  In 2007, Absa Bank Group in South Africa established a dedicated 
microenterprise finance unit to make funding more readily available to 
businesses that are formally excluded from getting regular bank loans. 
It has been estimated that as many as 97 percent of microentrepreneurs 
in South Africa had no access to loans prior to receiving funding 
through the AMEF. Today, more than 4.5 million people on low incomes 
use Absa Bank services for everything from microloans to saving 
accounts and transactions, leading the way for microenterprise loans in 
South Africa.
  In addition to providing loans, microfinance institutions can also 
support individuals by keeping savings in a secure manner and by 
helping to accumulate interest on deposits.

                              {time}  2145

  This allows the poor to lift themselves out of poverty.
  Self-reliance, Mr. Speaker, is the key. I've seen both the despair 
and the resiliency of Africans. In Rwanda I met a woman who was given a 
cow. Shortly after she received the cow, the cow had a calf, which she 
was then obligated to give to her neighbor. But based upon the cow she 
had and the milk that she could harvest from that particular cow, she 
was able to not only feed her family but to sell enough milk to then 
buy a bicycle.
  She bought a bicycle, Mr. Speaker, so that she could ride the 3 miles 
it took to get clean water. So instead of walking, now she could ride 
and send her children to get clean water. She then made enough money to 
send her children to school and pay the fees. She then took out a loan 
and bought another cow, and with that cow she is able now to buy food 
and clothing. She is able to do much more than she was before. She is 
really quite an entrepreneur. And, by the way, Mr. Speaker, this woman 
has AIDS. But she is raising five children on her own because someone 
gave her a cow and she had the ability to go from there.
  Mr. Speaker, in the very near future, microloans that support small-
scale entrepreneurship will improve the lives of Africans and empower 
them to work their way out of poverty. Microfinance is already proven 
in India and Bangladesh to be an effective economic development 
strategy. According to World Vision, one loan, just one loan, can 
create 40 jobs in a community of approximately 600 to 700 people.
  The difficulties faced by African nations should not deter us from 
providing assistance. Through America's support of expanding basic 
education and access to financial services, we can assist African 
leaders and people in creating a more vibrant continent and, in turn, a 
richer world. My recent experience has confirmed for me that both of 
these approaches can empower people by providing them with confidence, 
self-esteem, and the financial means to contribute to their economic 
advancement. Our leadership and our moral strength is only enhanced 
when we help others. Truly, Mr. Speaker, we lift as we rise.

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