I wrote my senator, New York Senator, Charles E. Schumer, to support this act.
Energize Africa Act of 2014 - Title I: Policies to Improve Access to Power in Sub-Saharan Africa - (Sec. 103) Directs the President to establish: (1) a multiyear strategy to encourage the efforts of countries in sub-Saharan Africa to implement national power strategies and develop an appropriate mix of power solutions, including renewable energy, to provide access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in order to reduce poverty and drive economic growth; and (2) an African Power Advisory Group.
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Here is his reply:
Dear Mr. Drucker:
Thank you for writing to express your support for the Energize Africa Act of 2014. I agree with you and am a supporter of this bill because I believe that the United States should play an important role in the fight against global poverty.
As you know, the Energize Africa Act of 2014, S. 2508, sought to enable roughly 50 million Africans to access electricity and add 20,000 megawatts of electricity to the grid by 2020 by requiring the President to design a strategy for cooperation with sub-Saharan Africa in developing power solutions. The Energize Africa Act of 2014 would have encouraged USAID, the U.S. Department of Treasury, the World Bank, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the African Development Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to support private investment in projects aimed at increasing access to electricity and would grant OPIC the authority to expedite projects, promote partnerships, lend money to encourage investments, and expand local currency guaranties.
Despite the bill’s merits, it was not considered by the Senate and needs to be re-introduced. While I am not a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I will continue to support this bill if it is reintroduced during the 114th Congress.
Again, thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. Please feel free to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance on this or any other matter.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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