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H.R. 5837: African Descent Act of 2014

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H.R. 5837: African Descent Act of 2014

113th Congress · introduced 2014-12-10 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2014-12-10 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

African Descent Act of 2014

Plain summary

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. 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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

African Descent Act of 2014

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong113-hr5837 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113