Bill Summary
The African Descent Affairs Act of 2019 is a bill that aims to address the ongoing discrimination and mistreatment of people of African descent on a global scale. It establishes an Office of Global African Descent Affairs within the Department of State, headed by a Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary. This office will advise the Secretary of State and coordinate efforts among government agencies to promote human rights and equality for people of African descent internationally. The bill also requires the State Department to include a section on the status of people of African descent in their annual human rights report, and authorizes funding for this purpose. The United States Agency for International Development will also appoint a Senior Advisor on Global African Descent Affairs to develop a strategy for addressing discrimination and violence against people of African descent. This bill is set to expire in 2029.
Possible Impacts
1. The African Descent Affairs Act of 2019 could provide government assistance and resources for people of African descent who face discrimination and violence around the world, helping to improve their social and economic opportunities. This could have a positive impact on the daily lives of individuals and communities affected by these issues.
2. The Act could lead to increased diplomatic efforts and partnerships with other countries to address issues of racial inequality and discrimination against people of African descent. This could potentially improve international relations and promote a more inclusive and equal global society.
3. The establishment of the Office of Global African Descent Affairs and the Senior Advisor on Global African Descent Affairs could lead to increased government accountability and transparency in addressing issues of discrimination and violence against people of African descent. This could also lead to greater awareness and understanding of these issues within the US government and society as a whole.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1877 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1877
To provide for the establishment of a global affairs strategy and
assistance for people of African descent, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 26, 2019
Mr. Hastings (for himself, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Lee of California, Mr.
Cohen, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Moore, Mr. Rush, and Mr. Meeks) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of a global affairs strategy and
assistance for people of African descent, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``African Descent Affairs Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The struggle to end discrimination against people of
African descent is a global challenge, and one that is central
to the United States commitment to human rights.
(2) Targeted exclusion, violence, and discrimination
against people of African descent continues around the world.
(3) Issues range from the fight for ancestral lands in
Latin America, hate crimes resulting in injury and death in
Europe, to profiling and excessive use of force by law
enforcement in the United States, and continuing global
disparities in health, education, employment, housing, and
other sectors.
(4) It is imperative that the world actively address the
vestiges of slavery and colonialism that have long hindered
racial equality and justice and prevented the recognition of
the important contributions of people of African descent to the
world.
(5) The International Decade for People of African Descent,
from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2025, offers an
opportunity to address these issues domestically and globally
through coordinated government and civil society strategies,
that include the private sector.
SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
(a) Office of Global African Descent Affairs.--Title I of the State
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 64. OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFRICAN DESCENT AFFAIRS.
``(a) Establishment of Office.--Not later than 60 days after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of State shall
establish within the Department of State an Office of Global African
Descent Affairs (in this section referred to as the `Office') in the
Bureau of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.
``(b) Head of Office.--
``(1) In general.--The head of the Office shall be the
Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African
Descent Affairs (in this section referred to as the `Special
Advisor').
``(2) Appointment.--The Director shall be appointed by the
Secretary.
``(c) Other Personnel.--The Office shall be supported by two senior
Foreign Service officers.
``(d) Functions.--The functions of the Office shall include the
following:
``(1) Advise the Secretary and direct activities, policies,
programs, and funding relating to the human rights and the
advancement of people of African descent internationally, for
all bureaus and offices of the Department of State and shall
lead the coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of relevant
international programs for all other Federal agencies.
``(2) Represent the United States in diplomatic matters
relevant to the human rights of people of African descent in
contacts with foreign governments, intergovernmental
organizations, and specialized agencies of the United Nations,
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, other
international organizations of which the United States is a
member, and relevant multilateral conferences and meetings.
``(3) Lead efforts to promote an international focus on
racial equality more broadly, including through diplomatic
initiatives with other countries and partnerships and regular
and enhanced coordination with international and
nongovernmental organizations and the private sector.
``(4) Develop and manage the Fund for African Descent
Affairs, established under section 3(c) of the African Descent
Affairs Act of 2019, for the purpose of investing in efficient
and innovative solutions to combat racial discrimination and
create economic and other opportunities for people of African
descent internationally.
``(5) Develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for
monitoring and evaluating foreign policy assistance for people
of African descent in Federal agencies.
``(6) Direct, as appropriate, United States Government
resources to respond to needs for protection, integration,
resettlement, and empowerment of people of African descent in
United States Government policies and international programs,
including to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence
against people of African descent internationally.
``(7) Develop and coordinate United States Government
international efforts related to the implementation of the
International Decade for People of African Descent and submit
annual reports to Congress on these efforts.
``(8) Work in collaboration with the Race, Ethnicity, and
Social Inclusion Unit and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere
Affairs and consult with the Bureau of African Affairs.
``(9) Compile an annual report on activities of the United
States Government relating to people of African descent to
fulfill the requirements of this section and the African
Descent Affairs Act of 2019.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
`appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
``(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
``(C) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in
Europe.
``(2) People of african descent.--The term `people of
African descent' has the meaning given the term in section 5 of
the African Descent Affairs Act of 2019.''.
(b) Annual Human Rights Report.--
(1) In general.--The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is
amended--
(A) in section 116 (22 U.S.C. 2151n), by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
``(h) Status of People of African Descent.--
``(1) In general.--The report required under subsection (d)
shall include, for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and
the Middle East, a description of the status of people of
African descent in each such country.
``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `people of
African descent' has the meaning given the term in section 5 of
the African Descent Affairs Act of 2019.''; and
(B) in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304)--
(i) by redesignating the second subsection
(i) (as added by section 1207(b)(2) of Public
Law 113-4) as subsection (j); and
(ii) by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(k) Status of People of African Descent.--
``(1) In general.--The report required under subsection (b)
shall include, for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and
the Middle East, a description of the status of people of
African descent in each such country.
``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `people of
African descent' has the meaning given the term in section 5 of
the African Descent Affairs Act of 2019.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply
with respect to reports required to be submitted under sections
116 and 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended
by this subsection, on or after such date of enactment.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of State $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2020 through 2029 to carry out this section and the amendments
made by this section.
(2) Private contributions.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of State is authorized to
accept private contributions to carry out this section and the
amendments made by this section.
(3) Designation.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) and private
contributions accepted under paragraph (2) may be referred to
as the ``Fund for African Descent Affairs''.
SEC. 4. ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Senior Advisor.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development shall appoint within the
immediate office of the Administrator a Senior Advisor to the
Administrator on Global African Descent Affairs (in this
section referred to as the ``Senior Advisor'').
(2) Appointment.--The Senior Advisor shall be appointed by
the Administrator.
(b) Functions.--The functions of the Senior Advisor shall include
the following:
(1) Advise the Administrator and direct activities,
policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights
and advancement of people of African descent internationally
for all bureaus and offices of the Agency.
(2) Develop a racial and ethnic equality and empowerment
policy, strategy, and action plan for the Agency, in
consultation with civil society, that includes a focus on
people of African descent.
(3) Serve as the Agency liaison to the Department of
State's Office of Global African Descent Affairs.
(4) Develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for
monitoring and evaluating foreign assistance for people of
African descent in Federal agencies.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2020 through 2029 to carry out this section.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(C) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in
Europe.
(2) People of african descent.--The term ``people of
African descent'' means persons of African origin who are
residents of countries of the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the
Middle East.
SEC. 6. BRIEFINGS AND ASSESSMENTS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, and annually thereafter, the Director and Special Advisor to the
Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs (appointed under section 64
of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by
section 3 of this Act))--
(1) shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on
the status of the human rights, social inclusion, equality, and
empowerment of people of African descent internationally, as
well as the status of programs and response strategies to
address discrimination and violence against people of African
descent internationally; and
(2) shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees an assessment of human and financial resources
necessary to fulfill the purposes and duties of this Act and
the amendments made by this Act.
SEC. 7. UNITED STATES POLICY TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO DISCRIMINATION
AND VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.
(a) Global Strategy Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 10
years, the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global
African Descent Affairs shall develop or update a United States global
strategy to empower, prevent, and respond to discrimination and
violence against people of African descent. The strategy shall be
transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees and, if
practicable, made available to the public.
(b) Collaboration and Coordination.--In developing the strategy
under subsection (a), the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary
on Global African Descent Affairs shall consult with--
(1) the heads of relevant Federal agencies; and
(2) representatives of civil society, multilateral, and
private sector organizations.
SEC. 8. SUNSET.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall terminate on
October 1, 2029.
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