Benjamin Gilman: “I would like to take time to voice my support for H. Con. Res. 102. Sub-Saharan Africa is clearly a region afflicted by…”

“I would like to take time to voice my support for H. Con. Res. 102. Sub-Saharan Africa is clearly a region afflicted by poverty. Despite some positive economic and political changes in sub-Saharan Africa, it remains an area of the world where hunger is pervasive and steadily increasing with one of every three persons being chronically undernourished. This hunger has multiple causes, including severe poverty, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, civil wars, continued foreign debt, degraded land, and inadequate education. African nations need additional U.S. aid to develop their human and natural resources--and thereby strengthen their capacity to deal with hunger, poverty, and related problems. Sub-Saharan Africa needs additional resources to improve farming and support farmer-owned businesses; help prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases; encourage the enrollment of more children in school; and help develop microenterprises and other business opportunities. However, assistance alone will not solve their problems. Although such poverty-focused development aid has proven effective, our efforts to assist sub-Saharan Africans to overcome poverty must remain focused on encouraging their participation in the private sector. The foundation for sustained economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa depends upon the development of an environment receptive to trade and investment.”