Ed Royce: “I would just begin by thanking Congresswoman Bass for her important work on this initiative. I am proud to have been…”

“I would just begin by thanking Congresswoman Bass for her important work on this initiative. I am proud to have been part of the African Growth and Opportunity Act coalition. I have been part of that coalition since 2000, when we wrote the original bill. I would also just recognize Tom Sheehy for his contribution on this, our professional staff member. But AGOA allows African countries that respect the rule of law and respect free market principles to export many goods to the United States on a duty-free basis. The program has boosted Africa's economic growth, and especially benefiting women. I can tell you from my trips there and seeing the results, it has strengthened the trade relationship between the United States and Africa, which is several multiples today of what it was when the bill was originally passed. When Congress reauthorized AGOA earlier this year, I successfully pressed, along with my colleague Congresswoman Karen Bass, for a 10- year extension; and this extension will provide U.S. and African businesses the certainty needed to build supply chains and deepen their strong trade relationships. {time} 1745 I also championed, as well as Karen Bass, the inclusion of country strategies in AGOA's reauthorization so that African countries could identify and make policy reforms to help them boost trade and take advantage of AGOA's provisions.…”