[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 538 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 538
Expressing support for a second United States-Africa Leaders Summit as
an important opportunity to strengthen ties between the United States
and African partners and build on areas of mutual interest.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 8 (legislative day, March 7), 2022
Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Coons) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
May 24, 2022
Reported by Mr. Menendez, without amendment
May 26, 2022
Considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for a second United States-Africa Leaders Summit as
an important opportunity to strengthen ties between the United States
and African partners and build on areas of mutual interest.
Whereas meaningful and consistent high-level multilateral engagement between the
United States and Africa is necessary for the foreign policy of the
United States to keep pace with the rapid transformation and demographic
shifts in Africa and to ensure that the United States understands and
responds to the dynamism and ambitions of its African partners;
Whereas successive United States Presidential administrations and Congress have
identified strategic competition with the People's Republic of China,
the Russian Federation, and other malign actors as a threat to the
national security priorities of the United States that requires building
and maintaining networks of bilateral and multilateral partners and
allies, including countries in Africa;
Whereas the People's Republic of China, the European Union, India, Japan, the
Russian Federation, and Turkey, among others, have held high-level
summits with African leaders to discuss policy priorities and deepen
economic, political, and security partnerships;
Whereas, during August 4 through 6, 2014, President Barack Obama hosted the
first and only United States-Africa Leaders Summit (referred to in this
preamble as the ``2014 Summit'') in Washington, DC, with African leaders
representing 50 countries, the African Union Commission, and various
private sector and civil society leaders under the theme ``Investing in
the Next Generation'';
Whereas the 2014 Summit provided a forum for African leaders to engage in frank
exchanges with the Government of the United States and congressional
leaders, business executives, and members of civil society regarding--
(1) development and economic challenges;
(2) trade, investment, and economic cooperation;
(3) democracy, human rights, and governance; and
(4) peace and regional security;
Whereas, on February 5, 2021, at the 34th Ordinary Session of the African Union
Assembly, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., outlined the vision of his
administration for a United States-Africa partnership to strengthen
relationships and build on mutual interests and respect with the
governments, people (including people of the African Diaspora), and
regional multilateral institutions of Africa;
Whereas, on November 19, 2021, during a speech to the Economic Community of West
African States in Abuja, Nigeria, Secretary of State Antony Blinken
announced that the United States would host a second United States-
Africa Leaders Summit ``to drive the kind of high-level diplomacy and
engagement that can transform relationships and make effective
cooperation possible''; and
Whereas a well-organized and resourced second United States-Africa Leaders
Summit, with an established mechanism for continuity and follow-up, will
create a platform upon which the United States and African partners can
better structure United States-Africa relationships, deliver on
commitments, solve problems, and work together as partners on areas of
mutual interest: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the administration of President Joseph R.
Biden, Jr., hosting a second United States-Africa Leaders
Summit (referred to in this resolution as the ``Summit'') as a
vital opportunity to strengthen ties between the United States
and African partners;
(2) underscores the importance of bipartisan, bicameral
congressional participation in the Summit;
(3) commits to working with the heads of state, civil
society, private sector, and the African Diaspora to build
stronger ties with the United States and pursue mutual
interests; and
(4) urges the Biden administration--
(A) to conduct adequate and diverse consultation
with African leaders, the African Diaspora, educational
institutions, private sector and civil society
organizations of the United States and Africa, and
public policy institutions in planning the Summit;
(B) to consider hosting the Summit in a location
outside of Washington, DC, that will--
(i) draw broad participation from State
Governors and high-level corporate leadership
in the United States; and
(ii) clarify that the private sector,
rather than governments, is the primary driver
of the commercial relationship between the
United States and African countries;
(C) to consider facilitating trips by African
leaders to other cities in the United States and
inviting like-minded partners from Europe, the Middle
East, Asia, and the Western Hemisphere to participate
as observers;
(D) to ensure that sessions focused on trade and
investment between the United States and Africa include
adequate facilitation of business-focused deal-making
with African governments, the African Diaspora, and
private sector through Prosper Africa and other similar
initiatives;
(E) to include a theme for the Summit that focuses
on shared democracy, governance, and human rights
concerns and priorities;
(F) to create opportunities during the Summit for
direct congressional engagement and to ensure the
participation of multiple cabinet members, including
members who do not traditionally work on foreign
policy, trade, and investment;
(G) to hold bilateral one-on-one presidential
engagements during the Summit to build stronger
personal relationships with African leaders while also
solidifying commitments and areas of mutual interest;
(H) to issue a formal declaration or communique
after the Summit describing commitments and a roadmap
for future engagement; and
(I) to create a formal mechanism, with appropriate
funding and personnel resources, to track and follow up
on the implementation of pledges made at the Summit and
build upon such commitments for future summits.
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