119-hr4610

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4610 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4610

 To require the Secretary of State to develop a strategy and convene a 
summit regarding technological and business development in Africa, and 
 for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 July 22, 2025

 Mr. Panetta (for himself and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
 Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To require the Secretary of State to develop a strategy and convene a 
summit regarding technological and business development in Africa, and 
 for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Building Resilient Innovation, 
Digital Growth, and Entrepreneurship with Africa Act'' or the ``BRIDGE 
Africa Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TECHNOLOGICAL 
 DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA.

 It is the sense of Congress that--

    (1) countries across Africa are experiencing rapid growth 
 in entrepreneurship, research and development in technology and 
 artificial intelligence, and investments in innovation that 
 have the potential to reshape economies and transform Africa's 
 future by unlocking new levels of innovation and social 
 development;

    (2) the United States should play a role in supporting this 
 phenomenon through both private and public investments and 
 finding solutions for potential challenges to investment 
 opportunities;

    (3) investing in the African continent's technological and 
 entrepreneurial growth is beneficial for soft power diplomacy 
 by building meaningful partnerships rooted in long-term mutual 
 progress and shared values;

    (4) deeper collaboration opens opportunities for additional 
 cultural and educational exchanges, becoming a potentially 
 powerful tool for building enduring relationships;

    (5) investing in artificial intelligence that is responsive 
 to Africa's diversity of ethnicities, languages, and culture 
 can create substantial breakthroughs for other diverse regions, 
 including in South America and the Indo-Pacific;

    (6) United States investments in African technology and AI 
 can play a strategic role in counterterrorism efforts by 
 supporting the development of tech ecosystems, which can 
 enhance surveillance capabilities, improve data analysis, and 
 strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure; and

    (7) contributing to these areas of growth additionally 
 strengthens trade and can increase United States exports in 
 relevant industries such as telecommunications and cloud 
 infrastructure.

SEC. 3. STRATEGY TO IMPROVE INVESTMENTS AND SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the 
Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Treasury, and in consultation 
with the Commander of the United States Africa Command, shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to increase 
cooperation with allies and partners in Africa to identify and to 
support new opportunities, investments, entrepreneurship pathways, and 
partnerships with respect to the development of advanced technology and 
artificial intelligence, including in the areas of finance, 
agriculture, health, energy, and education.

    (b) Contents.--The strategy required in subsection

    (a) shall 
include the following:

    (1) An analysis of how investments in entrepreneurship 
 relating to technology and innovation can improve regional 
 security and combat growing regional terrorist networks and 
 activities.

    (2) An identification of ways the United States can support 
 African businesses and entrepreneurs to launch and grow 
 sustainable businesses, create jobs, and design and manufacture 
 new and critical technologies, including through--
        (A) joint research between institutions of higher 
 education (as such term is defined in 

section 101 of 
 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) and 
 universities in covered countries;
        (B) digital skills training;
            (C) cybersecurity training; and
            (D) intellectual property education.

    (3) An assessment of economic barriers that limit or 
 prohibit the ability of companies in the United States to 
 invest in industries or programs in Africa that focus on 
 technology and innovation.

    (4) An identification of areas with respect to which United 
 States persons and the United States Government can partner 
 with covered countries to increase investment by citizens of or 
 entities organized under the laws of an African country or 
 partner or allied nation, in--
        (A) founders of businesses related to advanced 
 technology and artificial intelligence;
        (B) investors in advanced technology and artificial 
 intelligence;
            (C) talent related to advanced technology and 
 artificial intelligence;
            (D) research regarding advanced technology and 
 artificial intelligence; and
        (E) testing related to advanced technology and 
 artificial intelligence.

    (5) An identification of barriers to entrepreneurship in 
 Africa related to advanced technology and artificial 
 intelligence, including--
        (A) barriers to starting and growing a business;
        (B) costs of operating a business;
            (C) government policies; and
            (D) microeconomic conditions.

    (6) An identification of means to facilitate growth, 
 including through--
        (A) training in entrepreneurship;
        (B) education of business models;
            (C) financial support;
            (D) networking opportunities; and
        (E) legislative changes.

    (7) An identification of Federal agencies and departments 
 that would be suited to implement the strategy required by this 
 section, including consideration of the Development Finance 
 Corporation.

    (8) An analysis of how investments by United States persons 
 and the United States Government can support national security 
 objectives to combat malign activities by state and nonstate 
 actors in Africa.

SEC. 4. SUMMIT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall convene a summit 
with representatives of countries that are allies and partners of the 
United States for the purpose of coordinating on the contents of the 
strategy required by 

section 3 (if such strategy has not been 
finalized) and implementation of such strategy, including--

    (1) areas of interest in technology and innovation;

    (2) integration of resources;

    (3) investment opportunities;

    (4) identification of opportunities for African countries 
 to coordinate with the United States on the development and 
 implementation of such strategy; and

    (5) challenges regarding the implementation of such 
 strategy.

    (b) Location.--The summit required by this section shall take place 
in Africa, in a country determined by the Secretary of State in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the 
Treasury, and the Commander of the United States Africa Command, and 
representatives of such country.
            (c) Participants.--The Secretary of State may invite 
representatives from covered countries and countries that are partners 
and allies of the United States outside of Africa to participate in the 
summit required by this section, including the following:

    (1) Heads of state.

    (2) Representatives from defense, foreign relations, 
 commerce, treasury, or related agencies.

    (3) Subject matter experts.

    (4) Entrepreneurs in the field of artificial intelligence 
 or advanced technology.

    (5) Representatives from government development boards, if 
 applicable.

    (6) Any other representative determined appropriate by the 
 individuals listed in subsection

    (b) .
            (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the 
summit required by this section, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the 
following:

    (1) An analysis of the outcome of the summit, including 
 areas of success and areas in need of improvement.

    (2) The appropriateness of reconvening the summit, 
 including a proposed timeframe for reconvening and whether the 
 summit should be regularly reoccurring.

    (3) Findings identified by the summit regarding increasing 
 investment in the technology industry in Africa.

    (4) Any additional information, as the Secretary determines 
 useful.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Advanced technology.--The term ``advanced technology'' 
 means any technology that supports the development of products, 
 services, or processes that are innovative and not widely used.

    (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
 ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
        (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
 on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Science, 
 Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives; 
 and
        (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the 
 Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

    (3) Artificial intelligence.--The term ``artificial 
 intelligence'' has the meaning given such term in 

section 5002 
 of the William M.

    (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 9401).

    (4) Covered country.--The term ``covered country'' means 
 the following:
        (A) The Arab Republic of Egypt.
        (B) The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
            (C) The Kingdom of Morocco.
            (D) The Republic of Ghana.
        (E) The Republic of Kenya.
        (F) The Republic of Rwanda.
        (G) The Republic of Senegal.
        (H) The Republic of Tunisia.
            (I) Any other regional ally or partner of the 
 United States that the Secretary of State, the 
 Secretary of Defense, or Secretary of the Treasury 
 determines appropriate.

    (5) Critical technologies.--The term ``critical 
 technologies'' has the meaning given such term in 

section 721

    (a)

    (6)
        (A) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 
 4565

    (a)

    (6)
        (A) ).

    (6) United states person.--The term ``United States 
 person'' has the meaning given such term in 

section 101 of the 
 Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment 
 Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8511).

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.
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