[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4361-4362]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCING THE AFRICAN DESCENT AFFAIRS ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2017

  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note my introduction of 
the African Descent Affairs Act, as we continue to highlight the 
International Decade for People of African Descent.
  We have seen a sharp increase in racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, 
homophobia and other forms of discrimination across the world over the 
last year. Human rights violations emanating from racial prejudice and 
discrimination have negatively impacted people of African descent 
around the world, resulting in racial bias and disparities in 
education, employment, health, housing, justice, and other sectors. We 
must act now to reverse these disturbing trends. The International 
Decade for People of African Descent provides an opportunity to not 
only draw attention to these inequities, but to also join efforts with 
countries around the globe to develop and implement national strategies 
honoring the vast contributions of people of African descent and to 
combat continuing issues of prejudice and discrimination such as those 
currently gripping our nation.
  To aid these efforts, I have introduced the African Descent Affairs 
Act. The Act seeks to improve the situation of people of African 
descent around the world by establishing within our State Department a 
Global Office of African Descent Affairs to establish global foreign 
policy and assistance strategies for people of African descent; 
creating a ``Fund'' to support antidiscrimination and empowerment 
efforts by African descent led civil society organizations; and 
requiring Annual State Department Human Rights Reports to include a 
section on discrimination faced by people of African descent. I believe 
that U.S. foreign policy strategies such as these have improved the 
situation of vulnerable groups internationally and would greatly assist 
in responding to increasing levels of prejudice and discrimination 
faced by people of African descent around the globe.
  The State Department has already launched many successful initiatives 
that have aided

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vulnerable populations, such as the Office of Global Women's Issues, 
the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, the Special 
Advisor for International Disability Rights, the Special Representative 
to Muslim Communities, and the LGBT Global Equality Fund. Implementing 
a Global Office of African Descent Affairs will continue this tradition 
and facilitate the full and equal participation of people of African 
descent in society, promote knowledge of and respect for the diverse 
heritage, culture and contributions of people of African descent, and 
strengthen and implement legal frameworks that combat racial 
discrimination.
  Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will embrace the 
challenge of combating prejudice and discrimination across the world. I 
encourage them to join me in recognizing the collective history and 
achievements made by people of African descent by supporting the 
African Descent Affairs Act.

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