Within the next week, Congress will take up for consideration a bill which may appear to mean very little to you or me - but means a world of difference to at least 150,000 families in Africa.
It's the renewal of AGOA - the African Growth and Opportunity Act which was signed into law in 2000 and has helped at least 150,000 African families begin to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
Right now, Congress is considering renewing AGOA without a key provision of the bill - the "third country fabric allowance".
Simply, this provision allows manufacturers to import fabric which is made in other countries to African countries and allow the people in these African countries to assemble clothing from these fabrics.
This keeps the cost of production down and makes operating clothing factories MORE AFFORDABLE in African countries like Lesotho (where EDUN and GAP (RED) tees are produced), Tanzania, Uganda and elsewhere around the Continent.
Here is a recent email from ONE regarding this situation. I wholeheartedly urge you to CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO VOTE FOR HR 6142 when it comes before the Senate with the "third country fabric allowance" in the bill.
Thank you for caring about the world's poorest people.
Dear ONE Member,
Unless we take action now, up to 150,000 Africans, mostly women, could lose their jobs.
The "third-country fabric" provision of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) must be renewed before the end of the year. This provision helps African businesses create jobs by allowing them to import fabric that they can then make into clothes to sell in the United States.
In September, you and other ONE Members sent over 160,000 letters to members of Congress. We took out a full page ad in Roll Call, a daily newspaper read by members of Congress, with the names of ONE members who supported renewal of this important provision. We can now build on that momentum by reminding our representatives about this pressing issue today.
Please take a moment to write your Representatives
AGOA passed in 2000 and increased trade opportunities in Africa giving some of the world's poorest people new opportunities to earn a steady income, send their children to school, and build a hopeful future. But the crucial "third-country fabric" provision is set to expire next year.
Your action showed Congress that you support renewing this provision that's helping Africans continue to work their way out of poverty. Your efforts helped put this on the negotiating table, and now we have one last chance to ensure that it's passed before this Congress adjourns.
Please take a moment to write your Representatives
Without it, hope for many who have benefited from AGOA will fade and tens of thousands could lose their opportunity to work their way out of poverty.
Thank you for your voice,
Josh Peck, ONE.org
http://action.one.org/blog/comments.jsp?key=1&blog_entry_KEY=280&t=
It's the renewal of AGOA - the African Growth and Opportunity Act which was signed into law in 2000 and has helped at least 150,000 African families begin to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
Right now, Congress is considering renewing AGOA without a key provision of the bill - the "third country fabric allowance".
Simply, this provision allows manufacturers to import fabric which is made in other countries to African countries and allow the people in these African countries to assemble clothing from these fabrics.
This keeps the cost of production down and makes operating clothing factories MORE AFFORDABLE in African countries like Lesotho (where EDUN and GAP (RED) tees are produced), Tanzania, Uganda and elsewhere around the Continent.
Here is a recent email from ONE regarding this situation. I wholeheartedly urge you to CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO VOTE FOR HR 6142 when it comes before the Senate with the "third country fabric allowance" in the bill.
Thank you for caring about the world's poorest people.
Dear ONE Member,
Unless we take action now, up to 150,000 Africans, mostly women, could lose their jobs.
The "third-country fabric" provision of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) must be renewed before the end of the year. This provision helps African businesses create jobs by allowing them to import fabric that they can then make into clothes to sell in the United States.
In September, you and other ONE Members sent over 160,000 letters to members of Congress. We took out a full page ad in Roll Call, a daily newspaper read by members of Congress, with the names of ONE members who supported renewal of this important provision. We can now build on that momentum by reminding our representatives about this pressing issue today.
Please take a moment to write your Representatives
AGOA passed in 2000 and increased trade opportunities in Africa giving some of the world's poorest people new opportunities to earn a steady income, send their children to school, and build a hopeful future. But the crucial "third-country fabric" provision is set to expire next year.
Your action showed Congress that you support renewing this provision that's helping Africans continue to work their way out of poverty. Your efforts helped put this on the negotiating table, and now we have one last chance to ensure that it's passed before this Congress adjourns.
Please take a moment to write your Representatives
Without it, hope for many who have benefited from AGOA will fade and tens of thousands could lose their opportunity to work their way out of poverty.
Thank you for your voice,
Josh Peck, ONE.org
http://action.one.org/blog/comments.jsp?key=1&blog_entry_KEY=280&t=