U.S. Rep. Karen Bass Statement on the 49th Africa Day

Statement

Today U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights made the following statement in recognition of the 49th Africa Day, the African holiday which celebrates the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 following the coalescing of independent African countries with the purpose of moving the entire continent toward independence.

"As we commemorate the 49th Africa Day, I am pleased to celebrate the achievements and progress made by Africa's nations and the momentum that is building in our country and around the world to assist the continent with meeting its great potential. This year's Africa Day theme, "Boosting Intra-Africa Trade", is exactly the type of conversation we must have in order to meet our goal of making tangible modifications to the U.S. and Africa's trade agreement, which will not only have a favorable effect on our nation's economy, but also reinforce our relationships within the entire continent. The "Increasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa Act", a bill I cosponsored with original authors U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) is engineered to assist in this effort by increasing exports to Africa by 200 percent within the next 20 years. I am confident that through this opportunity for strategic collaboration, the United States and Africa will build a partnership that will last for many more Africa Days to come."

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