Mr. President, I rise to discuss the Increasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa Act of 2013. I am introducing this bill along with my partners from the last Congress. Senator Chris Coons from the State of Delaware is in the Chamber, the chair of the African Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senators John Boozman, Ben Cardin, and Mary Landrieu have joined us in this bipartisan effort. We expect Representatives Chris Smith and Karen Bass will soon introduce companion legislation in the House. This is a very straightforward, commonsense piece of legislation. It is about creating jobs, American jobs. Every $1 billion in exports from America supports over 5,000 jobs. This bill seeks to expand U.S. exports specifically to Africa by 200 percent in real dollar value over the next 10 years. The African market is ripe for greater American commercial engagement. In the past 10 years, people do not believe this, but they should take a look at the facts. In the past 10 years, six of the worlds fastest growing economies were located in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the next decade, 7 of the top 10 will be in Sub-Saharan Africa. The mental image which most Americans have of Africa is completely out of date. Africa is growing, not only in population but in economic activity. The middle class of Africa is growing as well.…
On the recordApril 11, 2013
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