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H.R.5837 / 113th Congress

African Descent Act of 2014

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 10, 2014

African Descent Act of 2014 - 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: (1) advising the Secretary and directing policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights and the advancement of people of African descent internationally; (2) managing a fund for people of African descent to invest in solutions to combat racial discrimination and create economic and political opportunities for people of African descent internationally; and (3) 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.

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Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) 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 five years) a U.S. global strategy to empower, prevent, and respond to discrimination and violence against people of African descent.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] · D–FL

Committees

  • Foreign Affairs Committee
2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1792)

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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