I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5837 
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 
DECEMBER 10, 2014 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘African Descent Act 
of 2014’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The struggle to end discrimination against 
people of African descent is a global challenge, and 
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one that is central to the United States commitment 
to human rights. 
(2) Targeted exclusion, violence, and discrimi-
nation against people of African descent continues 
around the world. 
(3) Issues range from the fight for ancestral 
lands in Latin America, hate crimes resulting in in-
jury and death in Europe, profiling and excessive 
use of force by law enforcement in the United 
States, and continuing global disparities in health, 
education, employment, housing, and other sectors. 
(4) It is imperative that the world actively ad-
dress the vestiges of slavery and colonialism that 
have long hindered racial equality and justice and 
prevented the recognition of the important contribu-
tions of people of African descent to the world. 
(5) The International Decade for People of Af-
rican Descent, from January 1, 2015, to December 
31, 2025, offers an opportunity to address these 
issues domestically and globally through coordinated 
government and civil society strategies, including the 
private sector. 
SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
(a) OFFICE
OF GLOBAL AFRICAN DESCENT AF-
FAIRS.—Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities 
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Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 63. OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFRICAN DESCENT AFFAIRS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—Not later than 
60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Secretary of State shall establish within the Department 
of State an Office of Global African Descent Affairs (in 
this section referred to as the ‘Office’) in the Front Office 
of the Office of the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy 
and Public Affairs. 
‘‘(b) HEAD OF OFFICE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The head of the Office 
shall be the Director and Special Advisor to the Sec-
retary on Global African Descent Affairs (in this 
section referred to as the ‘Special Advisor’). 
‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Director shall be ap-
pointed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) OTHER PERSONNEL.—The Office shall be sup-
ported by two senior Foreign Service officers. 
‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Office shall 
include the following: 
‘‘(1) Advise the Secretary and direct activities, 
policies, programs, and funding relating to the 
human rights and the advancement of people of Af-
rican descent internationally, for all bureaus and of-
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fices of the Department of State and shall lead the 
coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of relevant 
international programs for all other Federal agen-
cies. 
‘‘(2) Represent the United States in diplomatic 
matters relevant to the human rights of people of 
African descent in contacts with foreign govern-
ments, intergovernmental organizations, and special-
ized agencies of the United Nations, the Organiza-
tion of Security and Cooperation in Europe, other 
international organizations of which the United 
States is a member, relevant multilateral conferences 
and meetings. 
‘‘(3) Lead efforts to promote an international 
focus on racial equality more broadly, including 
through diplomatic initiatives with other countries 
and partnerships and regular and enhanced coordi-
nation with international and nongovernmental orga-
nizations and the private sector. 
‘‘(4) Manage a $3,000,000 fund for people of 
African descent to invest in efficient and innovative 
solutions to combat racial discrimination and create 
economic and political opportunities for people of Af-
rican descent internationally. 
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‘‘(5) Develop a uniform set of indicators and 
standards for monitoring and evaluating foreign pol-
icy assistance for people of African descent in Fed-
eral agencies. 
‘‘(6) Direct, as appropriate, United States Gov-
ernment resources to respond to needs for protec-
tion, integration, resettlement, and empowerment of 
people of African descent in United States Govern-
ment policies and international programs, including 
to prevent and respond to discrimination and vio-
lence against people of African descent internation-
ally. 
‘‘(7) Work in collaboration with the Race, Eth-
nicity, and Social Inclusion Unit in the Western 
Hemisphere Bureau Office. 
‘‘(8) Compile an annual report on activities of 
the United States Government relating to people of 
African descent to fulfill the requirements of this 
section and the African Descent Act of 2014. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’ means— 
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‘‘(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(2) PEOPLE
OF
AFRICAN
DESCENT.—The 
term ‘people of African descent’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 5 of the African Descent 
Act of 2014.’’. 
(b) ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Foreign Assistance Act 
of 1961 is amended— 
(A) in section 116 (22 U.S.C. 2151n), by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(h) STATUS OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The report required under 
subsection (d) shall include, for countries in the 
Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, a de-
scription of the status of people of African descent 
in each such country. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘people of African descent’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 5 of the African Descent Act of 
2014.’’; and 
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(B) in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304)— 
(i) by redesignating the second sub-
section (i) (as added by section 1207(b)(2) 
of Public Law 113–4) as subsection (j); 
and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(k) STATUS OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The report required under 
subsection (b) shall include, for countries in the 
Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, a de-
scription of people of African descent in each such 
country. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘people of African descent’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 5 of the African Descent Act of 
2014.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
this subsection take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and apply with respect to reports 
required to be submitted under sections 116 and 
502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as 
amended by this subsection, on or after such date of 
enactment. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of State $5,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2026 to 
carry out this section and the amendments made by 
this section. 
(2) 
PRIVATE
CONTRIBUTIONS.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the Secretary of 
State is authorized to accept private contributions to 
carry out this section and the amendments made by 
this section. 
(3) DESIGNATION.—Amounts appropriated pur-
suant to the authorization of appropriations under 
paragraph (1) and private contributions accepted 
under paragraph (2) may be referred to as the 
‘‘President Obama Fund for African Descent Af-
fairs’’. 
SEC. 4. ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR 
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) SENIOR ADVISOR.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development 
shall appoint within the immediate office of the Ad-
ministrator a Senior Advisor to the Administrator on 
Global African Descent Affairs (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Special Advisor’’). 
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(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Senior Advisor shall 
be appointed by the Administrator. 
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Special Advi-
sor shall include the following: 
(1) Advise the Administrator and direct activi-
ties, policies, programs, and funding relating to the 
human rights and advancement of people of African 
descent internationally for all bureaus and offices of 
the Agency. 
(2) Develop a racial and ethnic equality and 
empowerment policy, strategy, and action plan for 
the Agency, in consultation with civil society, that 
includes a focus on people of African descent. 
(3) Serve as the Agency liaison to the Depart-
ment of State’s Office on Global African Descent Af-
fairs. 
(4) Develop a uniform set of indicators and 
standards for monitoring and evaluating foreign as-
sistance for people of African descent in Federal 
agencies. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2026 
to carry out this section. 
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SEC. 5. FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in 
this Act, of the amounts made available for ‘‘Diplomatic 
and Consular Programs’’ for each of the fiscal years 2015 
through 2026, $8,000,000 is authorized to be appro-
priated for each such fiscal year to carry out this Act. 
(b) FUNDING OFFSET.—To offset the costs to be in-
curred by the Department of State to carry out the provi-
sions of this Act for fiscal years 2015 through 2026, the 
Secretary of State shall eliminate such positions within the 
Department of State, unless otherwise authorized or re-
quired by law, as the Secretary determines to be necessary 
to fully offset such costs. 
(c) LIMITATION.—No additional funds are authorized 
to be appropriated for ‘‘Diplomatic and Consular Pro-
grams’’ to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate; and 
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(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives. 
(2) PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.—The term 
‘‘people of African descent’’ means persons of Afri-
can origin who are residents of countries of the 
Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. 
SEC. 7. BRIEFINGS AND ASSESSMENTS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director 
and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African 
Descent Affairs (appointed under section 63 of the State 
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by 
section 3 of this Act))— 
(1) shall brief the appropriate congressional 
committees on the status of the human rights, social 
inclusion, equality, and empowerment of people of 
African descent internationally, as well as the status 
of programs and response strategies to address dis-
crimination and violence against people of African 
descent internationally; and 
(2) shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees an assessment of human and fi-
nancial resources necessary to fulfill the purposes 
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