This week, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., teamed up with the top Republican on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on a bill “to promote two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa” and which “codifies an existing interagency initiative developed to increase trade and investment, connecting American and African companies with new buyers, suppliers, and investment opportunities.”
U.S Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, introduced the “Prosper Africa Act” with Murphy as a co-sponsor.
“Advancing two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and African partners must be a key foreign policy priority,” said McCaul. “The establishment of the Prosper Africa Initiative in 2019 was an important step, but much more is needed to ensure the U.S. is showing up, competing for these business opportunities, and providing an alternative to China’s Belt in Road. I am proud to lead legislation to bolster this important initiative and further sharpen U.S. efforts.”
“Increasing trade and direct investment between the United States and Africa is an important way to protect U.S. national security by countering and out-competing authoritarian countries making inroads in Africa,” said Murphy. “It is also a key way to promote the prosperity of allies and partners on the continent, to open new opportunities for American businesses, and to improve quality of life for American families.”
The bill would codify Prosper Africa which the congresswoman’s office noted is “an existing interagency initiative to promote, facilitate and increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa.” The bill would also have a U.S.-African Leaders Summit every two years to help businesses and African nations work closely with the U.S. government and American businesses.
The bill was sent to the Foreign Affairs and the U.S. House Ways and Means Committees. So far, there is no companion measure in the U.S. Senate.
First elected to Congress in 2016 after serving in the Pentagon under President George W. Bush, Murphy announced last year that she would not run for a fourth term this year.
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