[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 522 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 522
Expressing the sense of the Senate supporting the U.S.-Africa Leaders
Summit to be held in Washington, D.C., from August 4 through 6, 2014.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 24, 2014
Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Flake, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Corker, Mr.
Durbin, Mrs. Shaheen, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
July 29, 2014
Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendment
July 31, 2014
Considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate supporting the U.S.-Africa Leaders
Summit to be held in Washington, D.C., from August 4 through 6, 2014.
Whereas the United States will convene the first U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit from
August 4 through August 6, 2014, featuring a congressional reception
welcoming African heads of state, the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, the
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, and dialogue sessions
between African leaders and President Barack Obama on investing in
Africa's future, promoting peace and regional stability, and governing
for the next generation;
Whereas the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit will be the largest event held between
the United States Government and African heads of state and governments;
Whereas the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit will build on the President's trip to
Africa in the summer of 2013 and will strengthen ties between the United
States and one of the most dynamic and fastest growing regions in the
world;
Whereas the United States Government has built strong and enduring partnerships
with African heads of state bilaterally and through the United Nations,
African Union, and African regional institutions;
Whereas the United States Government has demonstrated its commitment to Africa's
development and growth through resources, legislation, economic
relationships, and initiatives, including the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), Power Africa, Feed the Future,
Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts, and other efforts led by the
Department of State, the United States Agency for International
Development, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Department
of Commerce, and other agencies of the United States Government;
Whereas there are 10 authorized United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa
with over 94,000 United Nations peacekeepers working to promote peace
and stability for over 131,000,000 people across the continent, in
addition to additional missions led by the African Union, with United
States and international support and training;
Whereas the United States has served as the global leader in investments and
innovations in health across Africa, contributing significant resources
to improvements in health over the past two decades through United
States-led programs such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (PEPFAR), the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), and the
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI);
Whereas, through its investments in health across 16 priority countries in
Africa over the last two decades, the United States Government has
contributed to the reduction of child mortality rates by 44 percent and
the reduction of maternal mortality rates by 39 percent;
Whereas the majority of the fastest growing economies in the world are in
Africa, and the continent's steady annual economic growth rate of 5
percent has exceeded that of other regions in the world;
Whereas there are currently 1,000,000,000 Africans representing the fastest
growing population in the world, and by 2035, the African continent will
have the world's largest workforce;
Whereas individual nations in Africa and the African Union have made significant
achievements and remarkable progress since the inception of the African
Union 51 years ago and its transition from the Organization of African
Unity;
Whereas the United States Government, recognizing the importance of Africa's
youth and future generations, has invested in the next generation of
African entrepreneurs, educators, civic leaders, and innovators,
including through the United States-led Young African Leaders Initiative
(YALI), helping them develop skills and networks to build brighter
futures for their communities and countries; and
Whereas the United States Government is looking forward to hosting 50 heads of
state and the Chair of the African Union at the U.S.-Africa Leaders
Summit to demonstrate the United States commitment to Africa, deepen
partnerships, and determine concrete ways that the United States can
support African-led efforts to further peace and regional security,
advance democracy and good governance, improve health and education
services, increase trade and investment, address environmental issues,
improve resilience and food security, combat wildlife trafficking,
invest in women, and support the next generation of African leaders:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) deeply values the historic United States commitment to
Africa;
(2) affirms a future commitment to increased economic
partnership with Africa;
(3) supports innovations in development and an expanded
partnership with the private sector, including in the areas of
energy, food security, and health;
(4) supports efforts to facilitate increased trade and
investment between the United States and Africa, as well as
amongst African countries;
(5) supports ongoing African-led efforts to improve
peacekeeping, prevent atrocities, and combat violent extremism
and terrorism;
(6) affirms the enduring partnership of the people and
Government of the United States with the African people,
including the youth, and urges African leaders to invest in
this generation of young people, as well as the next
generation;
(7) encourages leaders in Africa to make efforts toward
strengthening good governance, the rule of law, and democracy,
including respecting constitutional term limits, human rights,
and ensuring that civil society organizations are able to
function freely in their countries;
(8) supports ongoing efforts to protect and promote women
and children, including through investments in education and
maternal, newborn, and child health;
(9) reaffirms the strong United States investment in health
in Africa, and anticipates leaders in Africa making greater and
sustainable investments in healthcare;
(10) commends African investments in preventing wildlife
trafficking and supports further investments, including
training and equipping enforcement teams in Africa;
(11) urges African heads of state to take concrete steps to
implement reforms that will further economic growth, good
governance, democracy, peace, security, rule of law, and
development; and
(12) expresses support for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit
from August 4 through August 6, 2014.
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