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Risch, Durbin Applaud Senate Passage of Resolution Encouraging Biden Administration to Follow Through on U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today applauded Senate passage of their resolution expressing support for a second U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit as an important opportunity to strengthen ties between the United States and African partners and build on areas of mutual interest.

“We are nearly halfway through the year and have yet to get a final date for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit announced by the administration last year. It is important that this summit occurs and be done right, with ample lead time and proper consultation and planning,” said Risch. “Today’s passage of this bipartisan resolution sends a clear message from Congress to the administration that we are committed to working with Africa’s leaders to build stronger ties through direct and high-level engagement.”

“Investing in our partnership with Africa is good for the United States and the world,” said Durbin. “Our bipartisan resolution supports President Biden’s plans to pursue a second U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit that will offer an opportunity to discuss cooperation on a range of shared issues including democracy, security, and trade.”

Text of the resolution as introduced can be found here.

Senators Risch and Durbin have a history of working together on African issues. Last November, they introduced a resolution expressing support for a free, fair, and peaceful December 4, 2021, presidential election in The Gambia.

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