David Thomas: “Mr. Speaker, I will place in the record a statement of administration policy. It starts, ``The administration strongly…”

“Mr. Speaker, I will place in the record a statement of administration policy. It starts, ``The administration strongly supports House passage of H.R. 4103.'' I would say to my colleague from Illinois and my colleague from Ohio, that I do not see on the floor, that this broad-based, bipartisan coalition is always open to having pointed out our inability to be as responsive to Africa as perhaps many would want. One of my responses back would be, notwithstanding all of the things that need to be done, this was a piece of legislation that languished for a long time. To the degree that we can do better, we always want to focus on doing better. But with the underlying provisions expiring in September, what we need is momentum now, with an understanding that far more needs to be done. This is the start of a positive, cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship with a portion of Africa, here sub-Saharan Africa. It ought not to be the only legislation that we ever consider and that we need to work together to move forward. But it is the only legislation available within the time frame prior to the expiration of the current legislation. So I would tell my friend, the gentleman from Illinois, that I look forward to working with him on additional pieces of legislation, with the understanding that our goal is to be bipartisan and make law. What we cannot do in dealing with Africa is to be partisan and make statements.”