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Feb. 9, 2000: Broad Coalition Rallies for the African Growth and Opportunity Act Legislators, Business, Religious Groups Pull Together for AGOA

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Coalition and CCA brought together representatives of both political parties, both houses of congress, a variety of businesses, the Constituency for Africa and the African Methodist Episcopal Church on February 9 for a press conference to call for the enactment of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. AGOA, which aims to provide easier access for African goods to the U.S. market and encourage further economic liberalization in Africa, was introduced in 1997, but only late last year did versions of the bill pass both houses. The different provisions are now being reconciled by the joint committee, including a House provision that calls for a modest increase in African textile exports to the United States. President Clinton reiterated in his State of the Union Address last month that the administration would work hard "to pass it in this session of Congress." While the bill is out of the limelight, and beyond the drama of Capitol Hill battles, Coalition members put together a distinguished and varied group of supporters to keep the bill alive. Speakers at the event included CCA Board Chairman Maurice Tempelsman, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Rosa Whitaker, Mel Foote, President of the Constituency for Africa, Penelope Myers and William Ayers of the AME Church, Ambassador Chitmansing Jesseramsing of Mauritius and CCA members Bill Irwin (Chevron), Chris Long (ENRON), and Jack Edlow (Edlow International). Captiol Hill was heavily represented. From the House, the group heard from Congresesman Phil Crane (R-Ill), Ed Royce (R-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tx), and Jim McDermott (D-WA). Senators Phil Gramm (R-TX) and William Roth (R-DE) spoke from the Senate side. Crane, a sponsor of the act, said that "we are on the threshold of acknowledging the importance of the 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and its over 600 million population." Noting that he was "guardedly optimistic" that the Senate and House could resolve their differences, Crane said "we have advanced the bill here on a bipartisan basis thanks to the leadership on the other side of the [political] isle, like Representative Charles Rangel, Democrat from New York. However, "because of scheduling problems right now, the bill's final passage will probably be delayed to sometime in March." Taking the podium, Representative Rangel reiterated his enthusiasm for the bill and noted that "We cannot maintain our prosperity unless we expand our markets and we cannot expand our markets unless we expand our technology. And we cannot do this unless we are prepared to invest" in emerging markets like those in Africa. Republican Senator Phil Gramm of Texas said he supported AGOA because "the strongest mule that we have ever harnessed up on behalf of sub-Saharan Africa is trade." Arguing that decades of foreign aid to Africa had failed to achieve much lasting economic growth, Gramm said that "making it possible for people in sub-Saharan Africa to produce goods and services and sell to the largest and richest [American] market in the world is our best ticket for economic development and for human freedom and dignity" on the continent. Ambassador Jesseramsing of Mauritius, spokesman for African Ambassadors, told the news conference that "I believe there is a growing momentum on Capitol Hill for an early agreement in the conference committee for an Africa bill with commercially meaningful [favorable textile] provisions." He added that the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, met with President Clinton in February and a number of legislators concerning the bill and "he came away with a most positive feeling that a meaningful compromise was at hand." The ambassador concluded by saying "it has been a long and arduous struggle to get the Africa bill where it is today and we are sure that it will go through soon. All the excellent work by so many dedicated supporters of Africa will bear the fruit that will help sustain our impoverished continent."

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