,,iii  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,res4 #ech  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #h 7legislative  
day1 ,m>* #g71 #bjbb,mr4 ,ris* 7=       
himself & ,mr4 ,durb97 submitt$ ! foll[+
 resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,=eign ,relations         
,,resolution  ,express+ support = a     
second ,unit$ ,/ates-,africa ,lead]s    
,summit z an important opportunity to   
/r5g!n ties betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates &    
,african p>tn]s & build on areas (      
mutual int]e/4  ,:]eas mean+ful &       
consi/5t high-level multilat]al         
engagem5t betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates &      
,africa is necess>y = ! =eign policy ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates to keep pace ) ! rapid   
trans=mation & demographic %ifts 9      
,africa & to ensure t ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
und]/&s & responds to ! dynamism &      
ambitions ( its ,african p>tn]s2 ,:]eas 
successive ,unit$ ,/ates ,presid5tial   
adm9i/rations & ,congress h id5tifi$    
/rategic competition ) ! ,p's ,republic 
( ,*9a1 ! ,russian ,f$]ation1 & o!r     

malign actors z a ?reat to ! national   
security priorities ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t 
requires build+ & ma9ta9+ networks (    
bilat]al & multilat]al p>tn]s & allies1 
includ+ c\ntries 9 ,africa2 ,:]eas !    
,p's ,republic ( ,*9a1 ! ,european      
,union1 ,india1 ,japan1 ! ,russian      
,f$]ation1 & ,turkey1 among o!rs1 h held
 high-level summits ) ,african lead]s to
 discuss policy priorities & deep5      
economic1 political1 & security         
p>tn]%ips2 ,:]eas1 dur+ ,augu/ #d ?r\gh 
#f1 #bjad1 ,presid5t ,b>ack ,obama ho/$ 
! fir/ & only ,unit$ ,/ates-,africa     
,lead]s ,summit 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is        
preamble z ! #bjad ,summit7 9 ,wa%+ton1 
,,dc1 ) ,african lead]s repres5t+ #ej   
c\ntries1 ! ,african ,union ,commission1
 & v>i\s private sector & civil society 
lead]s "u ! !me ,inve/+ 9 ! ,next       
,g5]ation2 ,:]eas ! #bjad ,summit       
provid$ a =um = ,african lead]s to      
engage 9 frank ex*anges ) ! ,gov]nm5t ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates & congressional lead]s1 
bus9ess executives1 & memb]s ( civil    

society reg>d+-- 7#a7 developm5t &      
economic *all5ges2  7#b7 trade1         
inve/m5t1 & economic coop]ation2  7#c7  
democracy1 human rights1 & gov]nance2 & 
7#d7 peace & regional security2 ,:]eas1 
on ,febru>y #e1 #bjba1 at ! #cd? ,ord9>y
 ,session ( ! ,african ,union ,assembly1
 ,presid5t ,joseph ,r4 ,bid51 ,jr41     
outl9$ ! vision ( 8 adm9i/ration = a    
,unit$ ,/ates-,africa p>tn]%ip to /r5g!n
 relation%ips & build on mutual int]e/s 
& respect ) ! gov]nm5ts1 p 7includ+ p ( 
! ,african ,diaspora71 & regional       
multilat]al in/itutions ( ,africa2      
,:]eas1 on ,novemb] #ai1 #bjba1 dur+ a  
spee* to ! ,economic ,community ( ,we/  
,african ,/ates 9 ,abuja1 ,nig]ia1      
,secret>y ( ,/ate ,antony ,bl9k5 ann\nc$
 t ! ,unit$ ,/ates w\ld ho/ a second    
,unit$ ,/ates-,africa ,lead]s ,summit to
 drive ! k9d ( high-level diplomacy &   
engagem5t t c trans=m relation%ips &    
make effective coop]ation possible2 &   
,:]eas a well-organiz$ & res\rc$ second 
,unit$ ,/ates-,africa ,lead]s ,summit1 )

 an e/abli%$ me*anism = cont9uity &     
foll[-up1 w create a plat=m ^u :i* !    
,unit$ ,/ates & ,african p>tn]s c bett] 
/ructure ,unit$ ,/ates-,africa          
relation%ips1 deliv] on commitm5ts1     
solve problems1 & "w toge!r z p>tn]s on 
areas ( mutual int]e/3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x 
,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 supports !           
adm9i/ration ( ,presid5t ,joseph ,r4    
,bid51 ,jr41 ho/+ a second ,unit$       
,/ates-,africa ,lead]s ,summit 7ref]r$  
to 9 ?is resolution z ! ,summit7 z a    
vital opportunity to /r5g!n ties betwe5 
! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,african p>tn]s2  7#b7
 und]scores ! importance ( bip>tisan1   
bicam]al congressional p>ticipation 9 ! 
,summit2  7#c7 commits to work+ ) !     
heads ( /ate1 civil society1 private    
sector1 & ! ,african ,diaspora to build 
/rong] ties ) ! ,unit$ ,/ates & pursue  
mutual int]e/s2 &  7#d7 urges ! ,bid5   
adm9i/ration-- 7,a7 to conduct adequate 
& div]se consultation ) ,african lead]s1
 ! ,african ,diaspora1 educational      
in/itutions1 private sector & civil     

society organizations ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
& ,africa1 & public policy in/itutions 9
 plann+ ! ,summit2  7,b7 to consid] ho/+
 ! ,summit 9 a location outside (       
,wa%+ton1 ,,dc1 t w-- 7i7 draw broad    
p>ticipation f ,/ate ,gov]nors &        
high-level corporate lead]%ip 9 ! ,unit$
 ,/ates2 &  7ii7 cl>ify t ! private     
sector1 r ?an gov]nm5ts1 is ! prim>y    
driv] ( ! comm]cial relation%ip betwe5 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates & ,african c\ntries2     
7,c7 to consid] facilitat+ trips by     
,african lead]s to o!r cities 9 ! ,unit$
 ,/ates & invit+ l-m9d$ p>tn]s f        
,europe1 ! ,middle ,ea/1 ,asia1 & !     
,we/]n ,hemisph]e to p>ticipate z       
obs]v]s2  7,d7 to ensure t sessions     
focus$ on trade & inve/m5t betwe5 !     
,unit$ ,/ates & ,africa include adequate
 facilitation ( bus9ess-focus$ deal-mak+
 ) ,african gov]nm5ts1 ! ,african       
,diaspora1 & private sector ?r\gh       
,prosp] ,africa & o!r simil>            
initiatives2  7,e7 to include a !me = ! 
,summit t focuses on %>$ democracy1     

gov]nance1 & human rights conc]ns &     
priorities2  7,f7 to create             
opportunities dur+ ! ,summit = direct   
congressional engagem5t & to ensure !   
p>ticipation ( multiple cab9et memb]s1  
includ+ memb]s :o d n traditionally "w  
on =eign policy1 trade1 & inve/m5t2     
7,g7 to hold bilat]al "o-on-"o          
presid5tial engagem5ts dur+ ! ,summit to
 build /rong] p]sonal relation%ips )    
,african lead]s :ile also solidify+     
commitm5ts & areas ( mutual int]e/2     
7,h7 to issue a =mal decl>ation or      
communique aft] ! ,summit describ+      
commitm5ts & a roadmap = future         
engagem5t2 &  7,i7 to create a =mal     
me*anism1 ) appropriate fund+ & p]sonnel
 res\rces1 to track & foll[ up on !     
implem5tation ( pl$ges made at ! ,summit
 & build ^u su* commitm5ts = future     
summits4