(7) Government agencies, including the Inter-
national Development Finance Corporation, the De-
partment of Commerce, the Department of the 
Treasury, and the United States Trade Representa-
tive are critical to investments and enduring mutual 
partnerships between the United States and African 
nations; 
(8) in 2021, through the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), the 
United States imported $6,700,000,000 in goods; 
(9) Prosper Africa and other similar Govern-
ment initiatives are critical to building and strength-
ening ties between the United States and African 
businesses; 
(10) the total two-way goods trade with Sub- 
Saharan Africa totaled $44,800,000,000 in 2021, a 
21.8-percent increase from $36,700,000,000 in 
2019; 
(11) the African diaspora plays an invaluable 
role in shaping Government policy; 
(12) members of the African diaspora have an 
invaluable understanding of cross-cultural engage-
ment between the United States and Africa, existing 
relations and networks on the African continent, and 
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can support efforts to facilitate stronger ties between 
the United States and Africa; 
(13) the United States is committed to 
strengthening the government-to-government rela-
tionships between the United States and countries 
throughout the African continent; 
(14) Congress strongly supports the hosting of 
the second United States-Africa Leaders Summit by 
the United States, which was held in December 
2022, to boost collaboration between the Govern-
ment and the African diaspora community in the 
United States, and to strengthen ties between the 
United States and African nations by bringing to-
gether approximately 49 African heads of state; 
(15) the African diaspora harbors a deep com-
mitment to family and community, an enduring 
work ethic, and a perseverance to succeed and con-
tribute to the society of the United States; 
(16) all members of the African diaspora in the 
United States deserve access to Federal resources 
and a voice in the Government of the United States; 
(17) the United States is committed to 
strengthening the dialogue between the African dias-
pora and Government officials through the creation 
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of the President’s Advisory Council on African Dias-
pora Engagement in the United States; and 
(18) the African diaspora community signifi-
cantly contributes to the growth and prosperity of 
the United States, and Congress honors this abun-
dant and growing community. 
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF AFRICAN DIASPORA HERITAGE 
MONTH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 36, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating the second section 146 as 
section 147; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 148. African Diaspora Heritage Month 
‘‘The President shall issue each year a proclama-
tion— 
‘‘(1) designating a month as African Diaspora 
Heritage Month; 
‘‘(2) calling on State and local governments and 
the people of the United States to observe African 
Diaspora Heritage Month with appropriate pro-
grams and activities; and 
‘‘(3) urging civil and educational authorities of 
States, counties, cities, and towns to observe African 
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Diaspora Heritage Month through appropriate pro-
grams and activities.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.— 
The table of sections for chapter 1 of title 36, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to 
the second section 146 and inserting the following: 
‘‘147. Choose Respect Day. 
‘‘148. African Diaspora Heritage Month.’’. 
Æ 
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