Benjamin Gilman: “I want to commend Mr. Bereuter and his bill, H.R. 3735, to reauthorize the Development Fund for Africa for fiscal years…”

“I want to commend Mr. Bereuter and his bill, H.R. 3735, to reauthorize the Development Fund for Africa for fiscal years 1997-99. As our chairman of our Africa Subcommittee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, will attest, while other regions of the world have improved their economic growth, sub-Saharan Africa remains far behind the rest of the world in per capita GNP. Given the lack of progress, there is a strong case for continued aid to Africa while other aid programs may be phased out. To reflect this strong sentiment behind continued aid to Africa, the committee will mark up this bill to reauthorize the main United States development aid program for that region. I will note that from 1962 to 1989, Africa only received 6.7 percent of United States foreign aid. This increased to 10 percent in the early 1990's. This bill reflects the consensus that percentage should increase. While other regions have managed to attract private capital, Africa's share of the world trade has declined to just 1.6 percent, including South Africa. Infant mortality on the continent remains at twice the rate of other developing regions. Many countries need to graduate from aid, including South Africa, as AID plans. Others, many others in Africa, have a long way to go and this bill recognizes that fact.”