IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 128 
Expressing the sense of Congress that Africa is of significant strategic, 
political, economic, and humanitarian importance to the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2009 
Mr. RUSH (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. KIL-
PATRICK of Michigan, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. CLAY, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. 
CUMMINGS, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. CAO, and Mr. ROYCE) sub-
mitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress that Africa is of significant 
strategic, political, economic, and humanitarian impor-
tance to the United States. 
Whereas contemporary United States ties with Sub-Saharan 
Africa today far transcend the humanitarian interests 
that have frequently underpinned United States engage-
ment with the continent; 
Whereas Africa now plays an increasingly significant role in 
meeting the world’s energy needs, supplying new and old 
technologies with vital mineral resources, and countering 
the transnational threats of terrorism, piracy, global 
health crises, and trafficking in illegal narcotics and per-
sons; 
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•HCON 128 IH 
Whereas there is a growing understanding in foreign policy 
circles that economic development, natural resource man-
agement, human security, and global stability are inex-
tricably linked; 
Whereas Freedom House concluded this year that 19 African 
countries are electoral democracies and asserted that 
these include ‘‘some of the most promising examples of 
new democracies in the world—places where leaders who 
came to power through fair and competitive elections pro-
vide real opportunities for their citizens to live in free-
dom’’; 
Whereas the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation 
(MCC) has entered into 11 compacts with African coun-
tries, worth nearly $4.5 billion, reflecting these countries’ 
commitment to policies that promote political and eco-
nomic freedom, investments in education and health, the 
sustainable use of natural resources, control of corrup-
tion, and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law; 
Whereas African economies are among the fastest growing 
globally and registered nearly 6 percent overall economic 
growth in 2007, the highest in 20 years; 
Whereas there are now 40 sub-Saharan African countries eli-
gible for trade benefits under the United States African 
Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the highest num-
ber ever; 
Whereas United States exports to Sub-Saharan Africa totaled 
$14.4 billion in 2007, an amount more than double that 
of 2001, while United States total imports from sub-Sa-
haran Africa more than tripled during this period, to 
$67.4 billion; 
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•HCON 128 IH 
Whereas United States firms are a leading provider of foreign 
direct investment to Sub-Saharan Africa, investing $13.8 
billion by year-end 2006; 
Whereas the United States Government and private sector 
jointly promote Africa’s economic development, United 
States trade with the region, and United States-Africa 
business partnerships; 
Whereas African states have collectively adopted the African 
Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development 
(NEPAD), a self-imposed framework for socio-economic 
development that aims to improve governance and pro-
mote friendlier ties among states; 
Whereas oil from North and Sub-Saharan Africa accounted 
for over 19.5 percent of United States oil imports in 
2008, a greater share than oil from Persian Gulf coun-
tries; 
Whereas the proportion of United States oil imports from Af-
rica is expected to grow to 25 percent over the next dec-
ade; 
Whereas Africa’s natural resources, if carefully managed, will 
contribute to global prosperity and expand economic 
growth in Africa; 
Whereas the creation of a United States military Africa Com-
mand in 2007 reflects Africa’s long-term strategic value 
and strives for a more coherent, coordinated, and effec-
tive United States Africa policy; 
Whereas the territorial waters of the Horn of Africa are a 
zone of international strategic importance because a large 
proportion of global energy supplies and commercial ship-
ping pass through them, necessitating increased United 
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•HCON 128 IH 
States cooperation with African countries to improve bor-
der and coastal security; 
Whereas United States military cooperation with Africa is 
growing, with United States and African forces routinely 
conducting joint exercises; 
Whereas African governments are steadily taking a larger 
role in the provision of security and peacekeeping on the 
continent, due in part to United States security assist-
ance and training; 
Whereas over 300 million Muslims live in Africa, where they 
enjoy a long history of tolerance and inter-faith coopera-
tion, making Africa an ideal place for the United States 
to foster and expand its relationship with the Islamic 
world; 
Whereas Africa’s growing importance is reflected in the in-
tensifying efforts of China, Russia, India, Iran, and other 
countries to gain access to African resources and advance 
their ties to the region; and 
Whereas a more comprehensive, multi-faceted regional policy 
is essential for the United States to operate effectively in 
this increasingly competitive environment: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) Africa is of significant strategic, political, 
economic, and humanitarian importance to the 
United States; and 
(2) the United States should vigorously pursue 
the formation and implementation of an integrated 
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•HCON 128 IH 
policy framework to advance economic development 
and trade relations with African nations and to fos-
ter strategic, political, economic, humanitarian, and 
cultural ties of mutual benefit to the United States 
and Africa. 
Æ 
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