IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 229 
Supporting the goal of the United States establishing a responsible energy 
policy toward the Gulf of Guinea region in Western Africa that encour-
ages local content development and greater governmental transparency. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 28, 2005 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition 
to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goal of the United States establishing a re-
sponsible energy policy toward the Gulf of Guinea region 
in Western Africa that encourages local content develop-
ment and greater governmental transparency. 
Whereas the United States buys approximately 15 percent of 
its oil from the Gulf of Guinea region in Western Africa; 
Whereas research indicates that in 10 years the United 
States will import 25 percent of its oil from the Gulf of 
Guinea region; 
Whereas the Gulf of Guinea region comprises the countries 
of Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, An-
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gola, Congo-Brazzaville, Sao Tome and Principe, and the 
Democratic Republic of Congo; 
Whereas political analysts have been pressuring the United 
States Government to find ways to diversify oil imports 
by the United States that rely too heavily on crude oil 
from the turbulent Middle East region; 
Whereas over $500,000,000,000 will be spent on oil fields in 
the Gulf of Guinea in the next decade, and governments 
in the oil-producing region are set to make over 
$200,000,000,000 in oil revenue within this decade alone; 
Whereas African countries will earn revenue and capital 
through taxation, royalties, rent-sharing agreements, and 
joint ventures; 
Whereas African oil has emerged as a strategic interest of the 
United States; 
Whereas the amount of oil that is imported from West Africa 
is equal to that which is imported from Saudi Arabia; 
Whereas research indicates that Africa could prosper in the 
decade ahead as a major supplier of oil and gas to a 
world where energy demand is rising quickly; 
Whereas the Gulf of Guinea is viewed as the next major 
growth area in the world, due to its large abundance of 
energy resources, which includes natural gas; 
Whereas the Gulf of Guinea will soon become the leading 
deepwater offshore oil production center in the world; 
Whereas it is vital for the continuation of the energy stability 
of the United States that African oil-producing countries 
become more stable, transparent, and democratic; 
Whereas local content development is the concept of training, 
using, and employing local or indigenous technology and
•HCON 229 IH 
expertise for the creation of an industrial or manufac-
turing base that will employ local workers and create en-
trepreneurial opportunities for local citizens; 
Whereas local content development can be used to create an 
environment that generates employment and leads to 
greater wealth-building opportunities, which can combat 
civil strife and lead to positive factors that contribute to 
the support of democratic institutions; 
Whereas increasing demands are being made by the govern-
ments of African countries for greater participation by 
indigenous companies in the energy sector, from con-
struction to exploration and production; 
Whereas the United States will continue to engage the Gulf 
of Guinea region for the foreseeable future and can en-
sure stability by encouraging United States corporations 
to engage in partnerships with the indigenous people 
through local content development initiatives; 
Whereas governmental corruption is the greatest obstacle to 
development; and 
Whereas the Congress should increase funding by the United 
States Agency for International Development to support 
nongovernmental organizations in Africa that work to 
overcome corruption in African countries, especially in oil 
producing countries: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) fully supports the goal of the United States 
establishing a responsible energy policy toward the 
Gulf of Guinea region in Western Africa that en-
•HCON 229 IH 
courages local content development and greater gov-
ernmental transparency; 
(2) fully encourages United States congres-
sional delegations to the Gulf of Guinea region in 
Western Africa in order to improve and garner 
greater attention for the relationship between the 
United States and Gulf of Guinea oil-producing 
countries; 
(3) fully supports enhancing funding by the 
United States Agency for International Development 
to support nongovernmental organizations in Africa 
that work to overcome corruption in African coun-
tries; 
(4) urges the Bush Administration— 
(A) to provide debt-relief authorized under 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any 
other provision of law, and trade benefits under 
the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(AGOA), to reward countries that adhere to the 
principles of transparency, human rights, and 
democracy; and 
(B) to partner and work with local organi-
zations in Africa that monitor the management 
and distribution of oil wealth; 
(5) urges the United Nations to—
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(A) support multilateral transparency and 
make the provisions of the Foreign Corrupt 
Practices Act international law that is enforced 
by the Security Council and violations of which 
are punished with full economic sanctions; and 
(B) use the United Nations Development 
Program to promote practical programs that 
work with civil groups, local organizations, and 
women’s associations to promote greater trans-
parency, poverty reduction, and full democratic 
participation in civil society; 
(6) urges oil companies organized under the 
laws of the United States that are operating in Afri-
ca to— 
(A) pursue local content development 
projects and participate in joint ventures with 
indigenous companies; 
(B) fully disclose all net taxes, fees, royal-
ties, signing bonuses, and other payments made 
to African governments; 
(C) engage with the African-American 
business community in the United States in de-
veloping and participating in investment and 
economic development opportunities in the Gulf 
of Guinea region; and
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(D) combat and prevent environmental 
degradation and uphold the principles of envi-
ronmental justice; 
(7) urges the President to encourage leaders of 
African countries to— 
(A) establish legislative initiatives that call 
for the implementation of local content develop-
ment programs; 
(B) establish future generation funds that 
will be used to invest a portion of a current oil 
revenue of each such country to prepare for a 
post-oil future; 
(C) uphold and guarantee respect for 
human rights, transparency, and full civil par-
ticipation in the democratic process; 
(D) explore measures to ensure women are 
given the opportunity to obtain equal and fair 
employment within the energy sector; and 
(8) urges the President to issue a written dec-
laration stating that the United States will establish 
a responsible energy policy toward the Gulf of Guin-
ea region in Western Africa that encourages local 
content development and greater governmental 
transparency. 
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