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Politics: U.S. Congressman Wants $225 Million In Liberian Aid
August 5th, 2008The U.S. money would cover road, bridge, water improvements
U.S. congressman calls for $225 million funding for Liberia. Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-Illinois) has introduced a bill to provide $225 million in assistance to Liberia between 2009 to 2013. Jackson told AllAfrica.com that the Liberia Stabilization, Economic Empowerment, Development and Security Act – the “Liberia Seeds Act” – would help Liberia and the country’s president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to re-establish democracy and rebuild the country after 25 years of conflict and civil war. Jackson, vice-chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations of the House Appropriations Committee, said Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman to ever head an African country, came “very close to leaving with nothing” after she addressed the U.S. Congress last year. However, the day before her speech, Congress approved a small aid package. “Liberia [now] needs ’seeds planted’ to provide her, the country, with sustainable development over a period of time that can ultimately garner international support so that the Johnson Sirleaf government can maintain and have some levels of stability,” Jackson says. Jackson’s bill targets the reconstruction of key roads and key bridges that would enhance commerce and allow Liberians to move back and forth to work. “The funds that we appropriate through the Development Assistance Account also help ex-combatants and war-affected youth,” he says, adding, the funds would also bolster the poor country’s electrical and water resources and security. Jackson says his proposal does not address issues such as health care, general education, development of agriculture or political participation. He says, given that the administration sees the success of Liberia and the Johnson Sirleaf administration as key parts of maintaining stability in West Africa, the aid bill stands a good chance of getting through the House Appropriations Committee.
You know I’m all for helping people but its not the United States of America’s job to help rebuild everybody’s disfunctional country. We have more than enough problems of our own that $225 million dollars can go toward mending. If Jessie Jackson Jr want Liberia to have all that support then him and his father can donate their own personal money!! Enough already!!!!!
Most of the time it’s the US that makes them disfunctional
I wish all Black leaders would take a deep look at how Mr Jackson handles him self And others around him.
I am all for helping Liberia and will do what ever, lot of those people are decendent from slaves in this country that went back when Marcus Garvey made the call to return to Africa especially from the coast of South Carolina.
Why don’t we spend the $225 million to help rebuild or roads here in the black communkty and to help fund some decent black schools. Take L.A. for instance, our communities are the wars zones of the USA.
U know no one is trying to hear from him right now. I guess he has to do something. We always trying to help someone out. We don’t even take care of the people here.
What happen to Arm -Hammer the peolpe who have been stealing them blind . Like Good Year trier?? Don,t they still have Rubber trees don,t they? All the Eruopens taking all the Rubber out of their and giving nothing back? Sound like Americanklan Slavery to me.
I think personally this bill would be a good start to the repairing of a war torn country. War torn country because who and what I might ask. Africa is the motherland of all civilation whether you like it or not. It could become a second home to those that need a opportunity to redeem themselves and become some who can build there own schools,interstate highways,hotels,banks etc.
I hope this bill passes and many more like it, until Black People start trying to do more for ourselves, things will continue to be the same, judging from the few comments made, most of these folks need an education on whats really happening in the world today. 225 million dollar is not a drop in the bucket to help Liberia, this African Country happens to believe in America and democracy, and whats needed there as in so many areas of Africa is the building of the infrasture, I would love to see Black business helping to reshape Africa in a posiive way, like helping them with water, electriciy, roads, agriculture, housing and so on. I’m the first to admit we could be doing a whole lot more for ourselves especially here in USA, but we also have the capacity to do more there too, I feel its a “New Day”, and a lot of people want to hear more about what we can do instead of what we can’t
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