Washington, DC — House of Representatives Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and House Republican Conference Chair J.C. Watts (R-OK) will lead separate, bi-partisan delegations to Africa during the congressional spring break. "Africa's potential" seems to be the theme of both journeys, according to statements from the two Representatives.
"Africa has so much promise and so much to offer on the world stage," said Speaker Hastert Wednesday. "I would hope this Congressional Delegation will be able to have frank discussions."
His eleven-person delegation includes two members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) who is accompanying the Speaker in her capacity as head of the Congressional Black Caucus. They will travel to South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.
Chairman Watts leading a 6-person delegation will also travel to Nigeria as well as Senegal and Ghana. "The African continent holds tremendous potential. Africa can be a tremendous trading partner," he said Wednesday. The Watts delegation of five Republicans and one Democrat, will meet with the Presidents of Nigeria and Ghana, health care officials and peacekeepers training in Senegal.
Watts, who visited Nigeria in 1995, noted it was under military rule then "and I did not accomplish what I wanted. The atmosphere is different now. The Obasanjo government is going in the right direction, dealing with corruption, dealing with crime," Mr. Watts said, at a Wednesday briefing at the Capitol in Washington.
Watts says one goal of the delegation is to "form partnerships in the areas of trade and economic development and to encourage democracy," Meetings with business leaders in Nigeria and Senegal, as well as with leaders of the Nigerian National Assembly form the largest part of their 7-day agenda.
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Both Watts and Speaker Hastert expressed special concern over the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Mr. Hastert's delegation will meet with South African legislators on trade issues and to discuss combating the spread of HIV/AIDs.
"We must find ways to help these nations address this problem, for their own sake and for the sake of other nations around the world," said Mr. Watts. As a practical matter, a shrunken world requires this kind of effort on health issues in Africa added Representative John Cooksey (R-LA). "Someone can board a plane in Africa and be in this country in 24 hours carrying Ebola or another infectious disease."
Although both the Watts and Hastert delegations will be in Africa at the same time, and will both visit Nigeria, they will not be in the West African nation at the same time.
