Date: 1999-07-16
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. my home State of Texas leads 15 other U.S. States in exporting goods to Africa. with an economic benefit totaling over $1 billion. So I rise in support of H.R. 434. hoping that many of my colleagues will answer the call from African leaders. and specifically women. Women are very eager to possess the means to fully engage the global economy and become economically selfreliant. This bill helps the economic standing of women in Africa. as well as the U.S. Businesswomen in the Nigerian American community in my district are encouraging me to remind this body that H.R. 434 willhelp women in Africa to receive more entrepreneurial opportunities that are central to the eradication of poverty in subSaharan Africa. This is why the African Association of Women Entrepreneurs supports this bill. Currently. women in Africa head about 40 percent of African households. and supply a significant percentage of the African work force. This is a great first step. They do not want a handout. they want trade. Vote for 434. Mr. Chairman. some opponents to H.R. 434 would have you believe that Democrats cannot think in terms of selfreliance or freemarket opportunities in the context of helping individuals create a better way of life for themselves. domestically or abroad. However. I rise in support of H.R. 434. hoping that many of my colleagues will answer the call from African leaders. and specifically women who are eager to possess the means to fully engage the global economy. becoming economically selfreliant. This bill helps the economic standing of women in Africa and well as in the U.S. My home State of Texas leads 15 other U.S. states in exporting goods to Africa. with economic benefits totaling over $1 billion. Many of the women benefiting from this relationship between Texas and Africa are members of the large NigerianAmerican community that I represent. They are committed to strengthening trading ties with their fellow sisters in Africa. Both sides want the passage of AGOA. Businesswoman in the NigerianAmerican community in my district are encouraging me to remind this body that H.R. 434 will help women in Africa to receive more entrepreneurial opportunities that are central to the eradication of poverty in subSaharan Africa. This is why the African Association of Women Entrepreneurs supports this bill. Currently. women in Africa head about 40% of African households and supply a significant percentage of the African workforce in the following industries: food processing. agricultural workforce. marketing and domestic food shortage. This shows that they are already proving their ability to work to take advantage of the benefits that would be provided by the passage of H.R. 434. Economic growth provided under AGOA also benefits women by generating increased resources for critical health care and educational needs. Therefore. as a nurse and businesswoman. I am acutely aware of the economic and healthrelated benefits that AGOA will create for women in Africa. I ask that my colleagues in this body not to deny women in Africa true empowerment. health access and economic rights. A vote against AGOA would do just that. During the debate on the 1964 civil rights bill in the Senate. a member of the body said of that legislation. "There is nothing so profound as an idea whose time has come." Mr. Chairman. H.R. 434 is laden with great possibilities and is profound because it is an idea whose time has finally come. Women in Africa are waiting for us to turn this profound idea into law and give them the means to take control over their lives and livelihood.