I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1877 

To provide for the establishment of a global affairs strategy and assistance 

for people of African descent, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 26, 2019 

Mr. HASTINGS (for himself, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. 

COHEN, Mr. LEWIS, Ms. MOORE, Mr. RUSH, and Mr. MEEKS) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To provide for the establishment of a global affairs strategy 

and assistance for people of African descent, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘African Descent Af5 fairs Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The struggle to end discrimination against 

9 people of African descent is a global challenge, and 


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1 one that is central to the United States commitment 

2 to human rights. 

3 (2) Targeted exclusion, violence, and discrimi4 nation against people of African descent continues 

5 around the world. 

6 (3) Issues range from the fight for ancestral 

7 lands in Latin America, hate crimes resulting in in8 jury and death in Europe, to profiling and excessive 

9 use of force by law enforcement in the United 

10 States, and continuing global disparities in health, 

11 education, employment, housing, and other sectors. 

12 (4) It is imperative that the world actively ad13 dress the vestiges of slavery and colonialism that 

14 have long hindered racial equality and justice and 

15 prevented the recognition of the important contribu16 tions of people of African descent to the world. 

17 (5) The International Decade for People of Af18 rican Descent, from January 1, 2015, to December 

19 31, 2025, offers an opportunity to address these 

20 issues domestically and globally through coordinated 

21 government and civil society strategies, that include 

22 the private sector. 

23 SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 

24 (a) OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFRICAN DESCENT AF25 FAIRS.—Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities 


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1 Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is amended by add2 ing at the end the following new section: 

3 ‘‘SEC. 64. OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFRICAN DESCENT AFFAIRS. 

4 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—Not later than 

5 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the 

6 Secretary of State shall establish within the Department 

7 of State an Office of Global African Descent Affairs (in 

8 this section referred to as the ‘Office’) in the Bureau of 

9 Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. 

10 ‘‘(b) HEAD OF OFFICE.— 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of the Office 

12 shall be the Director and Special Advisor to the Sec13 retary on Global African Descent Affairs (in this 

14 section referred to as the ‘Special Advisor’). 

15 ‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Director shall be ap16 pointed by the Secretary. 

17 ‘‘(c) OTHER PERSONNEL.—The Office shall be sup18 ported by two senior Foreign Service officers. 

19 ‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Office shall 

20 include the following: 

21 ‘‘(1) Advise the Secretary and direct activities, 

22 policies, programs, and funding relating to the 

23 human rights and the advancement of people of Af24 rican descent internationally, for all bureaus and of25 fices of the Department of State and shall lead the 


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1 coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of relevant 

2 international programs for all other Federal agen3 cies. 

4 ‘‘(2) Represent the United States in diplomatic 

5 matters relevant to the human rights of people of 

6 African descent in contacts with foreign govern7 ments, intergovernmental organizations, and special8 ized agencies of the United Nations, the Organiza9 tion for Security and Cooperation in Europe, other 

10 international organizations of which the United 

11 States is a member, and relevant multilateral con12 ferences and meetings. 

13 ‘‘(3) Lead efforts to promote an international 

14 focus on racial equality more broadly, including 

15 through diplomatic initiatives with other countries 

16 and partnerships and regular and enhanced coordi17 nation with international and nongovernmental orga18 nizations and the private sector. 

19 ‘‘(4) Develop and manage the Fund for African 

20 Descent Affairs, established under section 3(c) of 

21 the African Descent Affairs Act of 2019, for the 

22 purpose of investing in efficient and innovative solu23 tions to combat racial discrimination and create eco24 nomic and other opportunities for people of African 

25 descent internationally. 


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1 ‘‘(5) Develop a uniform set of indicators and 

2 standards for monitoring and evaluating foreign pol3 icy assistance for people of African descent in Fed4 eral agencies. 

5 ‘‘(6) Direct, as appropriate, United States Gov6 ernment resources to respond to needs for protec7 tion, integration, resettlement, and empowerment of 

8 people of African descent in United States Govern9 ment policies and international programs, including 

10 to prevent and respond to discrimination and vio11 lence against people of African descent internation12 ally. 

13 ‘‘(7) Develop and coordinate United States Gov14 ernment international efforts related to the imple15 mentation of the International Decade for People of 

16 African Descent and submit annual reports to Con17 gress on these efforts. 

18 ‘‘(8) Work in collaboration with the Race, Eth19 nicity, and Social Inclusion Unit and the Bureau of 

20 Western Hemisphere Affairs and consult with the 

21 Bureau of African Affairs. 

22 ‘‘(9) Compile an annual report on activities of 

23 the United States Government relating to people of 

24 African descent to fulfill the requirements of this 

25 section and the African Descent Affairs Act of 2019. 


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1 ‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

2 ‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT3 TEES.—The term ‘appropriate congressional com4 mittees’ means— 

5 ‘‘(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations 

6 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

7 Senate; 

8 ‘‘(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

9 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

10 House of Representatives; and 

11 ‘‘(C) the Commission on Security and Co12 operation in Europe. 

13 ‘‘(2) PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.—The 

14 term ‘people of African descent’ has the meaning 

15 given the term in section 5 of the African Descent 

16 Affairs Act of 2019.’’. 

17 (b) ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Foreign Assistance Act 

19 of 1961 is amended— 

20 (A) in section 116 (22 U.S.C. 2151n), by 

21 adding at the end the following new subsection: 

22 ‘‘(h) STATUS OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.— 

23 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The report required under 

24 subsection (d) shall include, for countries in the 

25 Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, a deVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Apr 06, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1877.IH H1877

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1 scription of the status of people of African descent 

2 in each such country. 

3 ‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 

4 ‘people of African descent’ has the meaning given 

5 the term in section 5 of the African Descent Affairs 

6 Act of 2019.’’; and 

7 (B) in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304)— 

8 (i) by redesignating the second sub9 section (i) (as added by section 1207(b)(2) 

10 of Public Law 113–4) as subsection (j); 

11 and 

12 (ii) by adding at the end the following 

13 new subsection: 

14 ‘‘(k) STATUS OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.— 

15 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The report required under 

16 subsection (b) shall include, for countries in the 

17 Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, a de18 scription of the status of people of African descent 

19 in each such country. 

20 ‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 

21 ‘people of African descent’ has the meaning given 

22 the term in section 5 of the African Descent Affairs 

23 Act of 2019.’’. 

24 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 

25 by this subsection take effect on the date of the enVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Apr 06, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1877.IH H1877

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1 actment of this Act and apply with respect to re2 ports required to be submitted under sections 116 

3 and 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as 

4 amended by this subsection, on or after such date of 

5 enactment. 

6 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

8 appropriated to the Secretary of State $5,000,000 

9 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2029 to 

10 carry out this section and the amendments made by 

11 this section. 

12 (2) PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.—Notwith13 standing any other provision of law, the Secretary of 

14 State is authorized to accept private contributions to 

15 carry out this section and the amendments made by 

16 this section. 

17 (3) DESIGNATION.—Amounts appropriated pur18 suant to the authorization of appropriations under 

19 paragraph (1) and private contributions accepted 

20 under paragraph (2) may be referred to as the 

21 ‘‘Fund for African Descent Affairs’’. 

22 SEC. 4. ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR 

23 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 

24 (a) SENIOR ADVISOR.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 

2 United States Agency for International Development 

3 shall appoint within the immediate office of the Ad4 ministrator a Senior Advisor to the Administrator on 

5 Global African Descent Affairs (in this section re6 ferred to as the ‘‘Senior Advisor’’). 

7 (2) APPOINTMENT.—The Senior Advisor shall 

8 be appointed by the Administrator. 

9 (b) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Senior Advi10 sor shall include the following: 

11 (1) Advise the Administrator and direct activi12 ties, policies, programs, and funding relating to the 

13 human rights and advancement of people of African 

14 descent internationally for all bureaus and offices of 

15 the Agency. 

16 (2) Develop a racial and ethnic equality and 

17 empowerment policy, strategy, and action plan for 

18 the Agency, in consultation with civil society, that 

19 includes a focus on people of African descent. 

20 (3) Serve as the Agency liaison to the Depart21 ment of State’s Office of Global African Descent Af22 fairs. 

23 (4) Develop a uniform set of indicators and 

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1 sistance for people of African descent in Federal 

2 agencies. 

3 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

4 authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 

5 $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2029 

6 to carry out this section. 

7 SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act: 

9 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT10 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com11 mittees’’ means— 

12 (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations 

13 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

14 Senate; 

15 (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 

16 the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

17 of Representatives; and 

18 (C) the Commission on Security and Co19 operation in Europe. 

20 (2) PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.—The term 

21 ‘‘people of African descent’’ means persons of Afri22 can origin who are residents of countries of the 

23 Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. 


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1 SEC. 6. BRIEFINGS AND ASSESSMENTS. 

2 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact3 ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director 

4 and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African 

5 Descent Affairs (appointed under section 64 of the State 

6 Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by 

7 section 3 of this Act))— 

8 (1) shall brief the appropriate congressional 

9 committees on the status of the human rights, social 

10 inclusion, equality, and empowerment of people of 

11 African descent internationally, as well as the status 

12 of programs and response strategies to address dis13 crimination and violence against people of African 

14 descent internationally; and 

15 (2) shall submit to the appropriate congres16 sional committees an assessment of human and fi17 nancial resources necessary to fulfill the purposes 

18 and duties of this Act and the amendments made by 

19 this Act. 

20 SEC. 7. UNITED STATES POLICY TO PREVENT AND RE21 SPOND TO DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE 

22 AGAINST PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. 

23 (a) GLOBAL STRATEGY REQUIREMENT.—Not later 

24 than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

25 and annually thereafter for 10 years, the Director and 

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1 scent Affairs shall develop or update a United States glob2 al strategy to empower, prevent, and respond to discrimi3 nation and violence against people of African descent. The 

4 strategy shall be transmitted to the appropriate congres5 sional committees and, if practicable, made available to 

6 the public. 

7 (b) COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION.—In devel8 oping the strategy under subsection (a), the Director and 

9 Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African De10 scent Affairs shall consult with— 

11 (1) the heads of relevant Federal agencies; and 

12 (2) representatives of civil society, multilateral, 

13 and private sector organizations. 

14 SEC. 8. SUNSET. 

15 This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 

16 terminate on October 1, 2029. 

Æ 


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