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HR 1039 114th Congress House International Affairs Africa Department of State Executive agency funding and structure Foreign aid and international relief Human rights Racial and ethnic relations

African Descent Affairs Act of 2015

Introduced: February 24, 2015 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 24, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Feb 24, 2015
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E234)
Feb 24, 2015
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

African Descent Affairs Act of 2015

Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to direct the Secretary of State to establish within the Department of State an Office of Global African Descent Affairs, to be headed by the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs.

Includes among Office functions:

  • advising the Secretary and directing policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights and the advancement of people of African descent internationally;
  • developing and managing the President Obama Fund for African Descent Affairs to invest in solutions to combat racial discrimination and create economic and political opportunities for people of African descent internationally;
  • directing U.S. government resources to respond to needs for protection, integration, resettlement, and empowerment of people of African descent in U.S. policies and international programs; and
  • compiling an annual report on U.S. government activities relating to people of African descent.

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include in the annual human rights report for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East a description of the status and the people of African descent in each country.

Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to appoint a Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Global African Descent Affairs who shall: (1) advise the Administrator and direct policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights and advancement of people of African descent internationally; and (2) develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for monitoring and evaluating foreign assistance for people of African descent.

Requires the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs to develop or update annually (for 10 years after the initial report) a U.S. global strategy to empower, prevent, and respond to discrimination and violence against people of African descent.

What's happening now February 24, 2015

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3