,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfaj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bb1 #bjbe,mr4 ,panetta 7for himself and ,mr4 ,wilson of ,south ,carolina7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,state to develop a strategy and convene a summit regarding technological and business development in ,africa1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,building ,resilient ,innovation1 ,digital ,growth1 and ,entrepreneurship with ,africa ,act or the ,,bridge ,africa ,act4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress regarding entrepreneurship and technological development in ,africa ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 countries across ,africa are experiencing rapid growth in entrepreneurship1 research and development in technology and artificial intelligence1 and investments in innovation that have the potential to reshape economies and transform ,africa's future by unlocking new levels of innovation and social development2 7#b7 the ,united ,states should play a role in supporting this phenomenon through both private and public investments and finding solutions for potential challenges to investment opportunities2 7#c7 investing in the ,african continent's technological and entrepreneurial growth is beneficial for soft power diplomacy by building meaningful partnerships rooted in long-term mutual progress and shared values2 7#d7 deeper collaboration opens opportunities for additional cultural and educational exchanges1 becoming a potentially powerful tool for building enduring relationships2 7#e7 investing in artificial intelligence that is responsive to ,africa's diversity of ethnicities1 languages1 and culture can create substantial breakthroughs for other diverse regions1 including in ,south ,america and the ,indo-,pacific2 7#f7 ,united ,states investments in ,african technology and ,,ai can play a strategic role in counterterrorism efforts by supporting the development of tech ecosystems1 which can enhance surveillance capabilities1 improve data analysis1 and strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure2 and 7#g7 contributing to these areas of growth additionally strengthens trade and can increase ,united ,states exports in relevant industries such as telecommunications and cloud infrastructure4 #c4 ,strategy to improve investments and support entrepreneurship 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in conjunction with the ,secretary of ,defense and ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and in consultation with the ,commander of the ,united ,states ,africa ,command1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to increase cooperation with allies and partners in ,africa to identify and to support new opportunities1 investments1 entrepreneurship pathways1 and partnerships with respect to the development of advanced technology and artificial intelligence1 including in the areas of finance1 agriculture1 health1 energy1 and education4 7b7 ,contents ,the strategy required in subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,an analysis of how investments in entrepreneurship relating to technology and innovation can improve regional security and combat growing regional terrorist networks and activities4 7#b7 ,an identification of ways the ,united ,states can support ,african businesses and entrepreneurs to launch and grow sustainable businesses1 create jobs1 and design and manufacture new and critical technologies1 including through-- 7,a7 joint research between institutions of higher education 7as such term is defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja77 and universities in covered countries2 7,b7 digital skills training2 7,c7 cybersecurity training2 and 7,d7 intellectual property education4 7#c7 ,an assessment of economic barriers that limit or prohibit the ability of companies in the ,united ,states to invest in industries or programs in ,africa that focus on technology and innovation4 7#d7 ,an identification of areas with respect to which ,united ,states persons and the ,united ,states ,government can partner with covered countries to increase investment by citizens of or entities organized under the laws of an ,african country or partner or allied nation1 in-- 7,a7 founders of businesses related to advanced technology and artificial intelligence2 7,b7 investors in advanced technology and artificial intelligence2 7,c7 talent related to advanced technology and artificial intelligence2 7,d7 research regarding advanced technology and artificial intelligence2 and 7,e7 testing related to advanced technology and artificial intelligence4 7#e7 ,an identification of barriers to entrepreneurship in ,africa related to advanced technology and artificial intelligence1 including-- 7,a7 barriers to starting and growing a business2 7,b7 costs of operating a business2 7,c7 government policies2 and 7,d7 microeconomic conditions4 7#f7 ,an identification of means to facilitate growth1 including through-- 7,a7 training in entrepreneurship2 7,b7 education of business models2 7,c7 financial support2 7,d7 networking opportunities2 and 7,e7 legislative changes4 7#g7 ,an identification of ,federal agencies and departments that would be suited to implement the strategy required by this section1 including consideration of the ,development ,finance ,corporation4 7#h7 ,an analysis of how investments by ,united ,states persons and the ,united ,states ,government can support national security objectives to combat malign activities by state and nonstate actors in ,africa4 #d4 ,summit 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall convene a summit with representatives of countries that are allies and partners of the ,united ,states for the purpose of coordinating on the contents of the strategy required by section #c 7if such strategy has not been finalized7 and implementation of such strategy1 including-- 7#a7 areas of interest in technology and innovation2 7#b7 integration of resources2 7#c7 investment opportunities2 7#d7 identification of opportunities for ,african countries to coordinate with the ,united ,states on the development and implementation of such strategy2 and 7#e7 challenges regarding the implementation of such strategy4 7b7 ,location ,the summit required by this section shall take place in ,africa1 in a country determined by the ,secretary of ,state in consultation with the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and the ,commander of the ,united ,states ,africa ,command1 and representatives of such country4 7c7 ,participants ,the ,secretary of ,state may invite representatives from covered countries and countries that are partners and allies of the ,united ,states outside of ,africa to participate in the summit required by this section1 including the following3 7#a7 ,heads of state4 7#b7 ,representatives from defense1 foreign relations1 commerce1 treasury1 or related agencies4 7#c7 ,subject matter experts4 7#d7 ,entrepreneurs in the field of artificial intelligence or advanced technology4 7#e7 ,representatives from government development boards1 if applicable4 7#f7 ,any other representative determined appropriate by the individuals listed in subsection 7b74 7d7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the conclusion of the summit required by this section1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the following3 7#a7 ,an analysis of the outcome of the summit1 including areas of success and areas in need of improvement4 7#b7 ,the appropriateness of reconvening the summit1 including a proposed timeframe for reconvening and whether the summit should be regularly reoccurring4 7#c7 ,findings identified by the summit regarding increasing investment in the technology industry in ,africa4 7#d7 ,any additional information1 as the ,secretary determines useful4 #e4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,advanced technology ,the term advanced technology means any technology that supports the development of products1 services1 or processes that are innovative and not widely used4 7#b7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation1 and the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate4 7#c7 ,artificial intelligence ,the term artificial intelligence has the meaning given such term in section #ejjb of the ,william ,m4 7,mac7 ,thornberry ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjba 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #idja74 7#d7 ,covered country ,the term covered country means the following3 7,a7 ,the ,arab ,republic of ,egypt4 7,b7 ,the ,federal ,republic of ,nigeria4 7,c7 ,the ,kingdom of ,morocco4 7,d7 ,the ,republic of ,ghana4 7,e7 ,the ,republic of ,kenya4 7,f7 ,the ,republic of ,rwanda4 7,g7 ,the ,republic of ,senegal4 7,h7 ,the ,republic of ,tunisia4 7,i7 ,any other regional ally or partner of the ,united ,states that the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 or ,secretary of the ,treasury determines appropriate4 7#e7 ,critical technologies ,the term critical technologies has the meaning given such term in section #gba7;a77#f77;,a7 of the ,defense ,production ,act of #aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #defe7;a77#f77;,a774 7#f7 ,united ,states person ,the term ,united ,states person has the meaning given such term in section #aja of the ,comprehensive ,iran ,sanctions1 ,accountability1 and ,divestment ,act of #bjaj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #heaa74 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this ,act4