,,iii ,calendar ,no4 #bgj #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #bhh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #f1 #bjac,mr4 ,flake 7for himself and ,mr4 ,coons7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,december #ah1 #bjac,reported by ,mr4 ,menendez1 without amendment ,,resolution ,supporting enhanced maritime security in the ,gulf of ,guinea and encouraging increased cooperation between the ,united ,states and ,west and ,central ,african countries to fight armed robbery at sea1 piracy1 and other maritime threats4 ,whereas1 although the number of armed robbery at sea and piracy attacks worldwide dropped substantially in recent years1 such acts in the ,gulf of ,guinea are increasing1 with more than #dj reported through ,october #bjac and many more going unreported2 ,whereas the ,united ,states imported more than #cae1jjj1jjj barrels of oil through the region in #bjab1 and ,united ,states businesses have extensive fixed assets in the region that are important to ,united ,states energy security2 ,whereas the nature of attacks in the ,gulf of ,guinea demonstrates an ongoing pattern of cargo thefts and robbery1 often occurring in the territorial waters of ,west and ,central ,african states2 ,whereas there are countries in ,west and ,central ,africa that are susceptible to acts of armed robbery at sea and piracy that lack adequate law enforcement and naval capabilities to stop or deter such attacks2 ,whereas acts of maritime crime raise the costs and risks of trade and commerce in ,africa and beyond because the security of vessels1 crews1 and cargoes cannot be guaranteed2 ,whereas shipping insurance premiums increase after such attacks1 and in so doing1 create disincentives for local1 regional1 and international investors and companies seeking to do business in the region2 ,whereas imports provide indispensable goods and services for the people of ,west and ,central ,africa1 generate port fees and customs duties for their governments1 and are essential in spurring economic growth and development in the region2 ,whereas the ,u4,s4 ,strategy ,toward ,sub-,saharan ,africa issued by ,president ,barack ,obama in ,june #bjab states1 8,it is in the interest of the ,united ,states to improve the region's trade competitiveness1 encourage the diversification of exports beyond natural resources1 and ensure that the benefits from growth are broad-based402 ,whereas a vibrant trade relationship between ,africa and its partners1 including the ,united ,states1 can lead to expanded economic opportunities that can spur competition1 raise productivity1 and facilitate job creation in the economies of all participating countries2 ,whereas the ,african ,union1 in collaboration with numerous official and nongovernmental stakeholders1 developed the 8#bjej ,africa's ,integrated ,maritime ,security0 strategy 7the #bjej ,,aim ,,strategy7 which seeks 8to address contending1 emerging and future maritime challenges and opportunities in ,africa ''' with a clear focus on enhanced wealth creation from a sustainable governance of ,africa's oceans and seas02 ,whereas the ,african ,union's #bjej ,,aim ,,strategy seeks to combat 8diverse illegal activities which include ''' arms and drug trafficking1 human trafficking and smuggling1 piracy1 and armed robbery at sea01 among other objectives2 ,whereas the ,june #bd-be1 #bjac1 meeting of the ,gulf of ,guinea ,maritime ,security ,heads of ,state ,summit held in ,cameroon marked the culmination of a ,united ,states ,government-supported ,economic ,communities of ,central ,african ,states 7,,eccas7 and ,economic ,community of ,west ,african ,states 7,,ecowas7-led initiative and process that produced an approved ,,ecowas-,,eccas ,memorandum of ,understanding for regional cooperation1 and adopted a ,gulf of ,guinea ,code of ,conduct to address maritime crime and a ,heads of ,state ,political ,declaration2 ,whereas ,,ecowas and ,,eccas states are working to cooperate and build their joint capacities in order to increase maritime security in the ,gulf of ,guinea and are working to achieve this goal with such partners as the ,united ,nations ,offices for ,west and ,central ,africa1 the ,gulf of ,guinea ,commission1 the ,international ,maritime ,organization1 the ,maritime ,organization for ,west and ,central ,africa1 and the ,african ,union2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government in the ,gulf of ,guinea has focused on encouraging multi-layered regional and national ownership in developing sustainable capacity building efforts1 including working with partners through the ,g#h ,friends of ,gulf of ,guinea ,group1 to coordinate ,united ,states ,government maritime security activities in the region2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government has assisted the countries of ,west and ,central ,africa to enhance regional maritime security through programs such as the 8,african ,partnership ,station01 operated by ,united ,states ,naval ,forces ,africa 8to build maritime safety and security by increasing maritime awareness1 response capabilities and infrastructure01 and the 8,african ,maritime ,law ,enforcement ,partnership01 which 8enables ,african partner nations to build maritime security capacity and improve management of their maritime environment through real world law enforcement operations1 and through provision of diverse types of training and equipment assistance and participation in diverse regional maritime military exercises01 as well as by employing analytical tools such as the ,maritime ,security ,sector ,reform ,guide2 and ,whereas ,united ,nations ,security ,council ,resolution #bjci1 8expressing its deep concern about the threat that piracy and armed robbery at sea in the ,gulf of ,guinea pose to international navigation1 security and the economic development of states in the region01 was unanimously adopted on ,february #bi1 #bjab3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 condemns acts of armed robbery at sea1 piracy1 and other maritime crime in the ,gulf of ,guinea2 7#b7 endorses and supports the efforts made by ,united ,states ,government agencies to assist affected ,west and ,central ,african countries to build capacity to combat armed robbery at sea1 piracy1 and other maritime threats1 and encourages the ,president to continue such assistance1 as appropriate1 within resource constraints2 and 7#c7 commends the ,african ,union1 subregional entities such as the ,,ecowas and ,,eccas1 and the various international agencies that have worked to develop policy and program frameworks for enhancing maritime security in ,west and ,central ,africa1 and encourages these entities and their member states to continue to build upon these and other efforts to achieve that end4 ,december #ah1 #bjac,reported without amendment