Kendrick Meek: “I am pleased and privileged to stand on the floor and support H.R. 1432, the African Growth and Opportunity Act. If we…”

“I am pleased and privileged to stand on the floor and support H.R. 1432, the African Growth and Opportunity Act. If we all understand what this act is supposed to do, it is supposed to provide opportunity for trade with sub-Saharan Africa. It is supposed to bring growth as to the African countries. Two things that are outstanding to me in this bill are political growth and certainly economic growth. That is a two-way street. It is political growth for us in the United States, it is political growth for sub-Saharan Africa, and it is also economic growth for both of us. I do not think that the Africans, as I talked to them, as we visited these African countries, they are not looking for a handout from the United States. They are very proud people. They have a history that goes all the way back to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. They understand what makes political and educational and economic reform. They are very, very pleased with this bill. I traveled with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) to Africa, and day-to-day and word-for-word, the African leaders want this bill. I do not think this bill is going to threaten in any way what we are already doing with Africa and with other countries. This is the beginning of a very, very good start to develop trade with Africa, and bring the respect and some of the economies of our economy to sub-Saharan Africa.”