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U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Idaho Newsletter for 2024-04-21 ( 41 items )  
Congressman Russ Fulcher Cosponsors Legislation to Support Main Street Businesses (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher recently cosponsored Congressman Lloyd Smucker's (PA-11) legislation titled the Main Street Tax Certainty Act. H.R. 4721 would permanently extend Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code, slated to expire in 2025. This section, which was adopted as part of the landmark 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, allows for a 20 percent deduction of qualified income for small  more PR

Crapo Legislation to Defund Biden's Electric Vehicle Mandate Receives Senate Vote (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Mike Crapo's (R-Idaho) and Joe Manchin's (D-West Virginia) bipartisan legislation to defund the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Rule designed to phase out of gas-powered cars and trucks in favor of electric vehicles (EV) received a vote in the U.S. Senate. "The EPA's rule is the most aggressive form of tailpipe emissions standards ever crafted, and imposes a de facto EV mandate on the Ameri more PR

Crapo Statement at Hearing on IRS FY 2025 Budget and 2024 Filing Season (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fiscal year 2025 budget and 2024 filling season with Commissioner Danny Werfel. As prepared for delivery: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome again Commissioner Werfel. "The IRS needs to be accountable for the choices it makes, become more efficient, rigorously pl more PR

Crapo Statement at Hearing on the President's 2024 Trade Policy Agenda (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing on the President's 2024 Trade Policy Agenda with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai. As prepared for delivery: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome Ambassador Tai. "I read the President's trade agenda carefully. If we measured wisdom by word count alone, President Biden's trade policy a more PR

Crapo, Risch, Emmer Demand Administration Evaluate U.S. Supply Chain for Smokeless Gunpowder (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) and U.S. Congressman Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) introduced the Ammunition Supply Chain Act requiring the Biden administration to submit a report to Congress about the current state of the domestic supply of necessary components for smokeless gun powder. "America's ability to protect its people and allies during times of combat depends on the robust supply chain of goo more PR

Crapo, Risch, Scott Lead Effort to Roll Back SEC's Climate Disclosure Rule (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) with Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) radical climate disclosure rule, which would bury public companies in paperwork, raise costs for consumers, and stifle economic opportunity. "We must continue to push back on the Biden Administration's attempts to use a more PR

Crapo, Risch, Tuberville Hold Biden Admin Accountable for Taxpayer-Funded Abortions Facilitated by the VA (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) introduced the VA Abortion Transparency Act, which would impose new abortion reporting requirements on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in an effort to create more transparency for taxpayers. "The Biden Administration's thinly-veiled workaround forces taxpayers to fund abortion, violating both federal law and congressional in more PR

Crapo, Scott, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Address Antisemitism on College Campuses (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Senate colleagues to introduce the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on campus. Currently, the Department of Education lacks a clear definition of antisemitism when det more PR

Crapo: President Biden's Trade Agenda Lacks Ambition, Enforcement (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: At a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing on the President's 2024 Trade Policy Agenda with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai, Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) expressed concern with the President's lack of negotiating real trade agreements and weak record on enforcement of existing trade agreements--the weakest of any Administration in 25 years. Senator Crapo pressed Ambassador Tai to more PR

Grassley, Shaheen, Risch Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Illicit Drug Precursors (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, is leading bipartisan legislation to enhance global precursor chemical destruction efforts. The Destruction Initiative for Stored Precursors Overseas and Safe Enforcement (DISPOSE) Act would facilitate U.S. collaboration with partner countries, including Mexico, Colombia and Peru, to ensure seized precursor c more PR

Kennedy, Risch introduce bill to require Biden admin to protect gunpowder supply chain (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced the Ammunition Supply Chain Act to require the Biden administration to submit a report to Congress about the state of the domestic supply of the chemical ingredients used in smokeless gunpowder. The legislation responds to recent strains on the global supply chain of these components, including nitrocellulose, the most common ingredient more PR

Merkley, Risch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Mass Timber Industry Across America (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Will create good-paying jobs through federal building construction and renovation Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Idaho's U.S. Senator James Risch today announced the introduction of the bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act to promote the utilization of mass timber in federal building projects and military construction. The mass timber industry has become important to Oregon, Idaho, and the e more PR

Risch Names Dunlap Hatchery as April Small Business of the Month (10)
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Jim Risch, senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, announced the selection of Dunlap Hatchery in Caldwell as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for April 2024. Dunlap Hatchery will be recognized for its contribution to Idaho in the Congressional Record of the U.S. Senate.? "Dunlap Hatchery, one of the longest-operating chicken hatcheries in  more PR

Risch Slams Biden BLM Public Lands Rule (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued the following statement following the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Conservation and Landscape Health final rule, which violates multiple-use requirements and blocks access to federal lands. "Multiple-use is a mandate, not a suggestion. It is meant to protect Idahoans' way of life, yet President Biden is attempting to take that away," said Risch."His BLM rule threatens I more PR

Risch, Crapo, Scott Leads Effort to Roll Back SEC's Climate Disclosure Rule (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) with Tim Scott (R-S.C.) today introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) radical climate disclosure rule, which would bury public companies in paperwork, raise costs for consumers, and stifle economic opportunity. "The SEC's climate disclosure rule prioritizes the Biden administration' more PR

Risch, Crapo, Tuberville Hold Biden Admin Accountable for Taxpayer-Funded Abortions Facilitated by the VA (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introduced the VA Abortion Transparency Act, which would impose new abortion reporting requirements on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in an effort to create more transparency for taxpayers. "The Biden's administration's war on life led to veterans care facilities wrongfully providing abortions," said Risch. "American ta more PR

Risch, Emmer Demand Administration Evaluate U.S. Supply Chain for Smokeless Gunpowder (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Introduce bicameral legislation requiring a report on Biden administration's assault on the sale and purchase of Second Amendment related products? Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and U.S. Congressman Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) today introduced the Ammunition Supply Chain Act requiring the Biden administration to submit a report to Congress about the current state of the domestic supply of necessary components for smoke more PR

Risch, Merkley Introduce Bill to Boost Mass Timber Industry Across America (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Creates jobs through federal building construction and renovation Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today announced the introduction of the bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act to promote the use of mass timber in federal building projects and military construction. The mass timber industry is important to Idaho, Oregon, and the entire Pacific Northwest's economy and environment.  more PR

Sen. Crapo: Weekly Column - April - Promoting Financial Literacy For Idaho Youth (10)
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following column on April 15, 2024: * * * April--Promoting Financial Literacy For Idaho Responsibly managing taxpayer dollars is, and always has been, a bedrock principle of my public service. It also motivates my support for efforts to promote financial education, particularly for young people. Sensible personal finance decisions young Idahoans make now can help set them up for a sound fiscal future. In April 2024, the U.S. Senate more PR

Sen. Johnson Calls on SEC to Roll Back Climate Disclosure Rule (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and 33 of his Senate colleagues in a bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) radical climate disclosure rule which would bury public companies in paperwork, raise costs for con more PR

Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Tim Scott in Effort to Roll Back SEC's Climate Disclosure Rule (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tim Scott in introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) radical climate disclosure rule which would bury public companies in paperwork, raise costs for consumers, and stifle economic opportunity. Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), more PR

Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Scott Leads Effort to Roll Back SEC Climate Disclosure Rule (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: on April 17, 2024 Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) today introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) radical climate disclosure rule which would bury public companies in paperwork, raise costs for consumers, and stifle economic opportunity. Every Republican o more PR

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Crapo Issues Statement at Hearing on IRS FY 2025 Budget, 2024 Filing Season (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fiscal year 2025 budget and 2024 filing season with Commissioner Danny Werfel. As prepared for delivery: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome again Commissioner Werfel. "The IRS needs to be accountable for the ch more PR

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Crapo Issues Statement at Hearing on the President 2024 Trade Policy Agenda (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: * * * U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing on the President's 2024 Trade Policy Agenda with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai. As prepared for delivery: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome Ambassador Tai. "I read the President's trade agenda carefull more PR

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Crapo: President Biden Trade Agenda Lacks Ambition, Enforcement (10)
WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: At a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing on the President's 2024 Trade Policy Agenda with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai, Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) expressed concern with the President's lack of negotiating real trade agreements and weak record on enforcement of existing trade agreements--the weakest of any Administration in 25 more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Leaders Cardin, Risch Applaud Committee Passage of Resolution Calling for Release of Evan Gershkovich (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hailed committee passage of their bipartisan resolution calling for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovich. "The passage of today's bipartisan resolution represents a resounding message of support for Eva more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Leaders Cardin, Risch, House Foreign Affairs Committee Leaders Meeks, McCaul Request Determination of Human Rights Abuses Committed by Sudan RSF (10)
WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 19, 2024: Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Ranking Member and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to President Biden urgently requesting a  more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Leaders Risch, Cardin Applaud Committee Passage of Resolution Calling for Release of Evan Gershkovich (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded committee passage of their resolution calling for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovich. "It's been over a year since Evan Gershkovich was jailed for doing his job - reporting on Russia's more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Leaders Risch, Cardin, House Foreign Affairs Committee Leaders McCaul, Meeks Request Determination of Human Rights Abuses Committed by Sudan RSF (10)
WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today sent a letter to President Biden urgently requesting a determinatio more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch Applauds Committee Passage of Legislation to Counter Iran (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on April 16, 2024: * * * U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statements in support of legislation passed out of committee today: End Iranian Terrorism (End IT) Act and Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act "The Middle East is in an unprecedented period of turmoil.  more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch Issues Opening Statement at Hearing on Modernizing U.S. Alliances, Partnerships in Indo-Pacific (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave the following opening remarks at a full committee hearing on modernizing U.S. alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Witnesses included The Honorable Harry B. Harris Jr., former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and former comma more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch Joins Sens. Shaheen, Collins, Colleagues in Letter Urging the Biden Administration to Renew Efforts to Identify the Cause of Anomalous Health Incidents (10)
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 15, 2024: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), along with a bipartisan group of senators, in sending a letter to President Biden urging his administration to renew efforts to investigate the root cause behind more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch Joins Sullivan, Colleagues in Warning Biden Not to Renew Oil Sanctions Relief for Venezuela Dictatorship (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.). in sending a letter to President Biden last week urging the administration to re more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch Meets With Czech Prime Minister Fiala (10)
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 16, 2024: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in the U.S. Capitol. "It was a pleasure to meet with Prime Minister Fiala in the U.S. Capitol today. The Czech Republic is an important NATO partner, and I appreciate its efforts to meet the commit more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch, Sen. Rubio on Administration Decision Not to Extend Oil License to Criminal Maduro Regime (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, today released the following statement on the Biden Administration's decision not to extend a license to do business with Maduro's oil industry: "Today's announcement that P more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch, Sens. Coons, Booker, Scott Applaud Senate Passage of Resolution Condemning Eswatini Human Rights Record (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 17, 2024: U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) today applauded the Senate's unanimous passage of their resolution that condemns the human rights record of the government of Eswatini and the killing of Eswatini human rights a more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch, Sens. Grassley, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Illicit Drug Precursors (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to enhance global precursor chemical destruction efforts. The Destruction Initi more PR

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Risch: Monroe Doctrine Is Vital as Ever as China, Russia, Iran Exert Influence in Our Hemisphere (10)
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: on April 15, 2024 U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week gave the keynote address at an event entitled "The Monroe Doctrine: An Evolving Legacy" hosted by the National Security Institute at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. Risch's full remarks can be read below: "As we more PR

Senator Coons applauds Senate passage of resolution condemning Eswatini's human rights record (10)
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following news release: Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) applauded the Senate's unanimous passage of his resolution that condemns the human rights record of the government of Eswatini and the killing of Eswatini human rights activist Thulani Maseko. This resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Eswatini is Africa's last absolute monarchy, currently ruled by Ki more PR

U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher Votes No on Foreign Aid Package (10)
WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, issued the following statement on April 19, 2024: * * * U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher released the following statement on his vote against the rule to advance foreign aid today. "The Biden administration's number one priority is to have an open border. This is a refusal to enforce American law and has resulted in homeland security threats, illicit drug and human trafficking, and entitlements to illegals... on a horrific scale. As Congress c more PR

Young, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Renew Trade Partnership Between U.S. and Sub-Saharan African Countries (10)
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, issued the following news release: Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024 to renew and strengthen a key trade program with sub-Saharan African countries. The African Growth and Opportunity Act is a trade preference program that facilitates deeper investment and stronger commercial ties between the United States an more PR