Agoa Extension Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, as a longtime proponent of the African Growth and Opportunity Extension Act, I rise today in support of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 6500, the AGOA Extension Act.

Let me first thank Ways and Means Committee Chairman Smith, Chairman Smith of the Trade Subcommittee, Ranking Member Neal, and Ranking Member Linda Sanchez for working on this in a bipartisan way and getting it over the hurdle.

Madam Speaker, I also have to think about an individual who mentored me. I cannot think about AGOA without thinking about the former chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, the Honorable late Charles B. Rangel. He always spoke and thought of doing what he could for the continent of Africa.

The African Growth and Opportunity Extension Act delivers significant economic benefit to the United States. In removing barriers to trade between the United States and Africa, AGOA has enabled approximately $1.8 billion in salaries for American workers each year.

AGOA also provides approximately $1 billion in annual benefits to American consumers. The program has resulted in millions of American households enjoying lower prices for cocoa, coffee, and other goods that the United States cannot produce at home.

American businesses understand the value of supporting robust U.S.- Africa trade, which supports more than 450,000 jobs across the United States.

For this reason, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, and countless other business associations are calling for AGOA's reauthorization by Congress.

Put simply, this bill offers clear advantages for millions of American workers. AGOA is essential to also protecting U.S. foreign policy interests in Africa.

As we speak, China and other U.S. adversaries are trying to undermine the African Continent to do this kind of work. In fact, Chinese officials seek to deepen China's commercial ties with African countries, prevent American businesses from competing in local markets, and redirect trade away from the United States.

Africa is the continent with the world's fastest growing population. China recognizes the critical role that Africa will play in the future and its economy and wants to exploit that, particularly as global demand for critical minerals and rare earth elements increases. China understands its own economy will benefit by making trade with Africa easier, not harder, and that is why China is rooting for AGOA's demise while offering zero-trade deals that mimic this vital U.S. program.

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Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, there are certainly improvements we can make in terms of encouraging countries to better utilize the trade preferences offered under AGOA and to maximize their government strategies to take full advantage of those benefits. I look forward to working with my colleagues to improve AGOA over the next 3 years, but extending the legislation is a first critical step.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote for this program.

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