Recognizing the strategic importance of Kenya to the United States and celebrating the 60-year anniversary of United States-Kenya relations.

Bill: 118-hres-1254
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
Introduced: 2024-05-23
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1254 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2024 Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick (for herself, Mr. James , Mr. Meeks , Ms. Jacobs , Mr. Buchanan , Mr. Jackson of Illinois , and Mrs. Kim of California ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the strategic importance of Kenya to the United States and celebrating the 60-year anniversary of United States-Kenya relations.

Whereas the United States and Kenya established diplomatic relations on May 23, 1964, after Kenya gained independence in 1963, and have since developed a strong and enduring bilateral partnership; Whereas bilateral engagement between the United States and Kenya expanded after Kenya’s historic 2002 general elections, when a coalition of opposition parties won the elections, ending decades of one-party dominance; Whereas Kenya took steps to bolster its democratic institutions in 2010 in the wake of the devastating 2007–2008 postelection violence by adopting a transformative new constitution with a bill of rights and new checks and balances, including a more deliberate separation of government powers and the devolution of certain authorities to new county governments; Whereas Kenya has become one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economies, a regional hub for transportation and finance, and a cornerstone of stability and prosperity in East Africa; Whereas, in August 2018, the United States and Kenya formally elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership and established a corresponding bilateral strategic dialogue, prioritizing 5 pillars of engagement, including— (1) economic prosperity, trade, and investment; (2) defense cooperation; (3) democracy, governance, and civilian security; (4) multilateral and regional issues; and (5) public health cooperation; Whereas the United States is a major trading partner for Kenya, which is a leading beneficiary of preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and a participant in the Prosper Africa initiative; Whereas the United States and Kenya entered bilateral negotiations on a future free trade agreement on July 8, 2020; Whereas, on July 14, 2022, the United States and Kenya launched Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations to increase bilateral trade and investment cooperation; Whereas Kenya’s dynamic and growing market-based economy offers increased economic opportunities for public and private partnerships that advance United States strategic and economic interests; Whereas Kenya is at the forefront of improving environmental resilience and is a top tourism destination known for its biodiversity and conservation efforts; Whereas, on September 25, 2023, the United States and Kenya signed a 5-year Framework for Defense Cooperation to guide mutual defense cooperation, enhance interoperability, and advance shared security interests; Whereas military-to-military ties between the United States and Kenya have deepened through coordinating and participating in bilateral and multilateral military exercises, and Kenya hosting United States forces at Manda Bay; Whereas the United States and Kenya have worked together to address shared security and counterterrorism concerns in Kenya and the broader region, including in Somalia, where Kenya has contributed forces for over a decade to counter al-Shabaab and support Somalia through the African Union mission; Whereas Kenya is a key strategic partner in responding to Iranian-backed Houthi attacks against vessels in the Red Sea through its participation in Operation Prosperity Guardian; Whereas, in 2011, Kenya reestablished the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights as an autonomous institution to monitor government compliance with internationally-recognized human rights and investigate alleged human rights violations; Whereas Kenya has a flourishing civil society that is supported through constitutional guarantees and a new, more predictable regulatory environment under the Public Benefits Organization Act, which came into effect on May 11, 2024; Whereas Kenya plays a critical role in supporting a strong force for regional cooperation and integration as a key member of the East African Community; Whereas Kenya has volunteered to mediate multiple regional conflicts; Whereas Kenya has been a leading African voice in multilateral forums, including during its 2021–2022 term on the United Nations Security Council, against Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming its respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and standing in defense of multilateralism; Whereas the United States and Kenya have a long history of partnering to address critical public health crises, including through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief; Whereas the United States and Kenya have developed strong people-to-people ties as the foundation for deeper cooperation, with over 200 Kenyans participating in United States Government-sponsored exchange programs annually and over 250,000 Americans visiting Kenya on average annually; and Whereas the diverse Kenyan-American community has made critical contributions to the culture and economy of the United States and forms one of the strongest bonds linking these two countries together: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) celebrates 60 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Kenya; (2) reaffirms the strong partnership between the United States and Kenya, rooted in a shared commitment to upholding peace, security, and prosperity; (3) recognizes Kenya’s role in regional security, including maritime security, and its efforts to foster stability in the Horn of Africa and East Africa; (4) calls for continued cooperation between the United States and Kenya in promoting, strengthening, and defending shared democratic values and respect for human rights; (5) encourages the United States and Kenya to continue to expand trade and economic cooperation; (6) encourages Kenya’s efforts to improve its business environment, domestic economic reforms, anticorruption measures, and counter money laundering efforts; (7) commits to strengthening and deepening diplomatic, economic, commercial, security, and people-to-people ties between the United States and Kenya; (8) encourages the Department of State to look at all available tools to help address Kenya’s debt crisis and counter China’s economic coercion; (9) appreciates the contributions of the Kenyan diaspora community to the United States; and (10) acknowledges the potential of the bilateral relationship to bring significant benefit to the citizens of both countries and to addressing security, economic, and environmental challenges across the region and beyond.