WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., applauded yesterday’s committee approval of his bipartisan legislation, S.832, the African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act.

Throughout his time in the U.S. Senate, Isakson has worked consistently on making sure the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Millennium Challenge Corporation advance our diplomatic relationships, bolster national security and promote economic growth in Georgia and the United States, and ensure effective and accountable foreign assistance.

“I believe in the power of our development assistance, and one of the keys to its success is economic growth. When America makes an investment in a country through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, there is accountability, so if corruption is not addressed, if the private sector doesn’t participate, or if they don’t have the rule of law governing their project, there are consequences,” said Isakson, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on bilateral international development. “I am glad the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations agrees that we should strengthen the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Millennium Challenge Corporation through this bill, and I look forward to passing it in the Senate.”

Isakson’s legislation allows for the establishment of concurrent agreements in eligible developing countries that allows flexibility for the Millennium Challenge Corporation to promote economic growth and cross-border engagement between nations. The bill also aims to accelerate the impact of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which offers duty-free access to the U.S. market for certain exports from eligible sub-Saharan African countries by requiring the State Department to better promote the program with sub-Saharan African governments and businesses.

Because of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the state of Georgia has seen increased opportunity for fair trade that is beneficial to businesses and our ports.

“I have seen, and tasted firsthand, the results of the good work that both the Millennium Challenge Corporation and The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation do in Africa,” said Isakson, who has eaten locally grown pineapple and drank Coca Cola’s filtered water in villages during his visit to Ghana. “I’m glad there will be an extended and greater partnership between these two outstanding organizations. The Millennium Challenge Corporation has strengthened accountability and enhanced economic growth through these types of partnerships. I commend both the Millennium Challenge Corporation and The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation for their continued commitment to Africa and to our own national security.”    

Also Thursday, the Millennium Challenge Corporation and The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation publicly signed a formal memorandum of understanding between the organizations to recognize their current partnership engagements in Cabo Verde and Zambia, and work toward possible future collaborations in Sierra Leone and other Millennium Challenge Corporation partner countries in Africa.

Isakson introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act on April 5, 2017, along with Senators Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Chris Coons, D-Del.   

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed its version of the bill, H.R.3445, as introduced by Chairman Edward Royce, R-Cal., on Sept. 28, 2017. Similar legislation passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last year.

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