,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #cdj  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,janu>y #cj1 #bjbe,mr4 
,ka9e 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,cornyn1 & ,mr4  
,book]7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !
 ,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to direct !     
,presid5t to designate a mon? z ,african
 ,diaspora ,h]itage ,mon?4  #a4 ,%ort   
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,african
 ,diaspora ,h]itage ,mon? ,act ( #bjbe4 
#b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds t-- 7#a7 !    
,african diaspora population 9 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates has gr[n significantly 9 rec5t   
ye>s1 ) ! numb] ( ,african immigrants   
gr[+ at a rate ( almo/ #bdf p]c5t f     
#bjjj to #bjai2  7#b7 z ( #bjbd1 !      
,african diaspora 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 0   
compris$ ( approximately #ej1jjj1jjj p2 
7#c7 ! ,african diaspora community is "o
 ( ! mo/ div]se communities 9 ! ,unit$  
,/ates1 inclusive ( p :o speak multiple 
languages1 ^: ri* h]itage comes f all   
across ! ,african cont95t1 & ^: memb]s  
practice v>i\s fai?s2  7#d7 dur+ ! #ag?1

 #ah?1 & #ai? c5turies1 a significant   
numb] ( enslav$ p f ,africa 7 br\ght to 
! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#e7 immigrants (     
,african orig9 boa/ "s ( ! highe/       
educational a*ievem5ts ( any immigrant  
gr\p2  7#f7 ,african diaspora h\seholds 
contribute billions ( doll>s to !       
economy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ) an e/imat$ 
#aj1ajj1jjj1jjj 9 ,f$]al taxes1         
#d1gjj1jjj1jjj 9 ,/ate & local taxes1 & 
a sp5d+ p[] ( m ?an #dj1cjj1jjj1jjj 9   
#bjae2  7#g7 ,sub-,sah>an ,african      
immigrants liv+ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1      
,europe1 & else:]e s5t back             
#df1jjj1jjj1jjj 9 remittances to !      
cont95t ( ,africa 9 #bjba2  7#h7        
,gov]nm5t ag5cies1 includ+ !            
,int]national ,developm5t ,f9ance       
,corporation1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,comm]ce1 ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ! ,treasury1 & ! ,unit$     
,/ates ,trade ,repres5tative are        
critical to inve/m5ts & endur+ mutual   
p>tn]%ips betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates &      
,african nations2  7#i7 9 #bjbc1 ?r\gh !
 ,african ,gr[? & ,opportunity ,act 7#ai

 ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq471 ! ,unit$     
,/ates import$ #i1gjj1jjj1jjj 9 goods & 
res\rces2  7#aj7 ,prosp] ,africa & o!r  
simil> ,gov]nm5t initiatives are        
critical to build+ & /r5g!n+ ties betwe5
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,african bus9esses2  
7#aa7 ! total two-way goods trade )     
,sub-,sah>an ,africa total$             
#dg1ejj1jjj1jjj 9 #bjbc1 a #f4b p]c5t   
increase f #dd1gjj1jjj1jjj 9 #bjba2     
7#ab7 ! ,african diaspora plays an      
invaluable role 9 %ap+ ,gov]nm5t policy2
  7#ac7 memb]s ( ! ,african diaspora h  
an invaluable und]/&+ ( cross-cultural  
engagem5t betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates &      
,africa1 exi/+ relations & networks on !
 ,african cont95t1 & c support ef=ts to 
facilitate /rong] p-to-p ties betwe5 !  
,unit$ ,/ates & ,africa2  7#ad7 ! ,unit$
 ,/ates is committ$ to /r5g!n+ !        
gov]nm5t-to-gov]nm5t relation%ips betwe5
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & c\ntries ?r\gh\t !   
,african cont95t2  7#ae7 ,congress      
/rongly supports ! ho/+ ( ! second      
,unit$ ,/ates-,africa ,lead]s ,summit by

 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :i* 0 held 9 ,decemb] 
#bjbb1 to boo/ collaboration betwe5 !   
,gov]nm5t & ! ,african diaspora         
community 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & to /r5g!n
 ties betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,african 
nations by br++ toge!r approximately #di
 ,african heads ( /ate2  7#af7 !        
,african diaspora h>bors a deep         
commitm5t to family & community1 an     
endur+ "w e?ic1 & a p]sev]ance to succe$
 & contribute to ! society ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates2  7#ag7 all memb]s ( ! ,african  
diaspora 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates des]ve access
 to any ,f$]al res\rces !y are legally  
eligible to receive & fre$om to         
p>ticipate 9 civil life 9 ! ,unit$      
,/ates2 &  7#ah7 ! ,african diaspora    
community significantly contributes to !
 gr[? & prosp]ity ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 &  
,congress honors ?is abundant & gr[+    
community4  #c4 ,african ,diaspora      
,h]itage ,mon?  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #a (
 title #cf1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is     
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #adi4 
,african ,diaspora ,h]itage ,mon? ,!    

,presid5t %all issue ea* ye> a          
proclamation-- 7#a7 designat+ a mon? z  
,african ,diaspora ,h]itage ,mon?2  7#b7
 call+ on ,/ate & local gov]nm5ts & ! p 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to obs]ve ,african    
,diaspora ,h]itage ,mon? ) appropriate  
programs & activities2 &  7#c7 urg+     
civil & educational au?orities ( ,/ates 
& local gov]nm5ts to obs]ve ,african    
,diaspora ,h]itage ,mon? ?r\gh          
appropriate programs & activities4  4   
7b7 ,te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5t ,! table 
( sections = *apt] #a ( title #cf1      
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ 
aft] ! item relat+ to section #adh !    
foll[+3  #adi4 ,african ,diaspora       
,h]itage ,mon?4  4