John W. Olver: “everyone here recognizes that sustained economic development in sub-Saharan Africa depends upon successful trade with…”

“everyone here recognizes that sustained economic development in sub-Saharan Africa depends upon successful trade with and foreign assistance to sub-Saharan Africa, but there is a crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa now has close to 30 million men, women and children testing positive with HIV/AIDS. Mr. Speaker, the HIV/AIDS crisis threatens the whole workforce in sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Speaker, to have a successful trading relationship with sub-Saharan Africa, it requires urgent and expedited action to meet the HIV/AIDS crisis. Less than 10 months ago when we debated this bill, the House added language, which I am very pleased that was added, to place emphasis on that, that addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis must be a major component of our foreign policy in all of Africa; that significant progress in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS is necessary to sustain a mutually-beneficial trade arrangement there; and that that HIV/AIDS crisis is a global threat that merits further attention through expanded public, private, and joint efforts and through appropriate American legislation. And, as I say, I am very pleased that that language was retained.”