Congressional Record—House H1040
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H1040 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE March 11, 1998 Finally, by maintaining our foreign The CHAIRMAN. The Committee will leading exports to South Africa are in- assistance program for sustainable de- rise informally in order that the House dustries where Illinois excells: chemi- velopment and humanitarian purposes, may receive a message. cal, earth-moving equipment, agricul- this legislation commits us not only to The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. BE- tural machinery, and aviation parts. economic liberalization in Africa, but REUTER) assumed the chair. From the Chicago-land area, exports also to equitable and efficient develop- f to South Africa grew 148 percent be- ment that does not overlook the poor tween 1993 and 1996, starting at $74 mil- MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT or those most in need. lion and increasing to $184 million. In Mr. Chairman, I find it very hard to A message in writing from the Presi- Rockford, Illinois, exports to South Af- imagine how someone could oppose this dent of the United States was commu- rica grew 29 percent, jumping from $2 legislation once they have examined it. nicated to the House by Mr. Sherman million in 1994 to $2.6 million in 1995, This legislation has received wide- Williams, one of his secretaries. the latest date for which we have ex- spread attention both inside the United The SPEAKER pro tempore. The port statistics. States and outside this country from Committee will resume its sitting. South Africa is the locomotive that our allies and friends. Ask the African f drives much of Sub-Saharan Africa, countries and their leaders and their AFRICAN GROWTH AND and it is critically important we help people how they feel about it. If they OPPORTUNITY ACT this big emerging market on the path know about it, they are in favor of it. of democratic and free-market reform. It has been received well as a coordi- The Committee resumed its sitting. Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I nated, thoughtful component to our Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 yield 1 minute to the distinguished foreign policy toward the individual minutes to the gentleman from Illinois gentleman from California (Mr. BER- countries of Africa. (Mr. MANZULLO). MAN). I say to my colleagues who know Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Chairman, Afri- (Mr. BERMAN asked and was given about my involvement in Africa and ca is a continent on the move and it is permission to revise and extend his re- foreign affairs issues for some time, I time we recognized that fact. We have marks.) neglected the people of Africa and say to them, this legislation is a very b 1245 positive contribution to Africa and to ceded many export opportunities to the United States. I strongly urge that their former European colonial powers. Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues support the most impor- This legislation will for the first time the gentleman for yielding me the tant foreign policy initiative of this focus the attention of the U.S. Govern- time. Congress, one that has bipartisan sup- ment on a comprehensive trade strat- Mr. Chairman, I join the gentleman port. egy towards Africa. This legislation re- in support of H.R. 1432, the African Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I inforces the positive developments tak- Growth and Opportunity Act. This bill yield 1 minute to the distinguished ing place in that continent. Since 1990, will help sub-Saharan countries build gentleman from Illinois (Mr. JACKSON), more than 25 African countries have economic self-sufficiency and reduce in recognition of the gentleman's held democratic elections and more their isolation in an increasingly inter- strong concerns about this issue and than 30 countries have embarked on dependent world. The bill supports U.S. that it is his birthday, even though he free-market economic reforms. aid programs that are vital in the near is going to speak in opposition. Let me give my colleagues a taste of term, but focus on sustainable develop- Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Chair- what can happen. Last year I held a ment as the only way to substantially man, I thank the gentleman for yield- hearing before the Subcommittee on boost living standards in some of the ing me this time. Small Business Exports, which I chair, world's poorest countries. It promotes Let me first thank the gentleman on the subject of the Overseas Private trade, foreign investment, debt relief, from California (Mr. ROYCE) and the Investment Corporation, OPIC. A won- and private enterprise, including busi- gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. derful lady born in Africa and now re- nesses run by women. MENENDEZ) for this opportunity. I want siding in Massachusetts, Monique At the same time, the bill requires to thank all of my colleagues for their Maddy, testified how her small tele- that beneficiary countries have or participation in this discussion which I communications firm was able to con- must be moving towards market-based suspect will be a fruitful debate. tribute both to economic development economies. It requires they be commit- This is an historic day as this Con- in Africa and increased U.S. exports to ted to accountable government, the gress discusses and debates U.S. trade Africa. eradication of poverty, observance of with Africa on the House floor. As my She won a deal, thanks to a political human rights: these criteria offer the colleague noted, I was born on March risk insurance package from OPIC, to best chance for prosperity and stability 11, 1965, and on December 12, 1995, I was build wireless public telephones which in the region. elected to Congress as the 91st African- operate on debit cards instead of coins The debate today will go into great American to serve in this House. There for Tanzania. This contract resulted in details on many of the provisions. have only been 102 African-Americans the export of $4.5 million worth of There will be some amendments which elected to Congress out of a total of goods and services from 8 supplier com- make the bill even better, and others 11,541 Americans. Ninety-eight have panies in 7 States: Texas, New Jersey, which will be designed to fundamen- been in the House, 4 elected to the Sen- Washington, Georgia, Missouri, and tally gut the key provisions of this bill, ate and 2 this last century, including 2 North Carolina. In addition, 60 jobs but I urge support for the bill and op- this century, CAROL MOSELEY-BRAUN, were created in Tanzania. position to those amendments, in the the only African-American woman to Because the Africa Communications context of trying to help H.R. 1432. ever serve in the Senate. Group did so well with the Tanzania Mr. Chairman, opponents of H.R. 1432 say This occasion to debate a respectful sale, Ms. Maddy subsequently won a that the United States should not help Sub-Sa- and reciprocal trade relation with Afri- larger sale to Ghana with OPIC's help. haran Africa by dropping quotas and tariffs on ca is a test of fate for the 60 million Af- This will result in the export of ap- textiles and apparel, even though these are ricans taken from their native shores proximately $65 million worth of goods the goods countries in the region can most and forced to make the transatlantic and services from the United States readily produce. Opponents argue that reduc- voyage. It is because of that history and create 500 jobs in Ghana. Without ing trade barriers will make U.S. imports of that we are compelled to strenuously OPIC, most likely these deals would such goods soar, threatening U.S. textile and critique and analyze this bill. So I am have gone to our European competi- apparel manufacturers and workers. They periodically, Mr. Speaker, going to tors. vastly overstate the case. raise questions of some of my col- My home State of Illinois is another To address this concern, the Committee on leagues on the other side and this side example of the phenomenal growth of Ways and Means asked the International that I hope will be taken in the spirit exports to Africa. South Africa alone is Trade Commission to assess potential textile within which we have engaged in this Illinois's 20th largest export destina- and apparel imports from Sub-Saharan Africa discourse. tion, totaling $389 million for 1996. The under the terms of the bill. The ITC estimated March 11, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE H1041 that even with duty- and quota-free treatment, taled $15.2 billion. However, U.S. trade I would also like to commend my textile and apparel imports from the region will with the Nation of Japan alone totaled chairman of the Subcommittee on Afri- not exceed three percent of total U.S. imports just above $200 billion. We see the in- ca, the gentleman from California (Mr. of such goods over the next 10 years. Sub- equity and we see the devastation of ROYCE), and the ranking member, who Saharan African imports currently account for the absence of economic opportunity. we have heard from also, the gen- less than one percent of total U.S. textile and Mr. Chairman, I urge every Member tleman from New Jersey (Mr. MENEN- apparel imports. Such modest growth, while of this Congress to support this legisla- DEZ) for the time, effort, and energy important to Africa, clearly would pose no tion. they have spent in trying to perfect threat to U.S. manufacturers or workers. Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 this bill. It is still not a perfect bill, The bill provides for a review of the no-tariff, minutes to the gentleman from Penn- but it would not be in the shape that it no-quota policy by requiring the President to sylvania (Mr.