{"id":72116,"date":"2013-06-28T14:59:24","date_gmt":"2013-06-28T14:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.org\/us\/?post_type=one_press&p=72116"},"modified":"2013-06-28T14:59:24","modified_gmt":"2013-06-28T14:59:24","slug":"one-welcomes-bipartisan-energy-poverty-bill","status":"publish","type":"one_press","link":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/us\/press\/one-welcomes-bipartisan-energy-poverty-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"ONE Welcomes Bipartisan Energy Poverty Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0WASHINGTON, DC (June 28, 2013) \u2013 The ONE Campaign welcomes yesterday\u2019s introduction of \u201cElectrify Africa,” a bipartisan bill designed to help bring modern energy access to millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. The bill, introduced by Representatives Royce (R-CA-39) and Engel (D-NY-16), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, coordinates U.S. government resources to facilitate much needed investments in African power projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cONE applauds Chairman Royce and Ranking Democrat Engel for tackling the plight of the more than 550 million people in Africa who lack access to reliable energy,\u201d Tom Hart, U.S. Executive Director of ONE said. \u201cToday, when nearly all aspects of modern life depend on energy access\u2014from cooking, heating and lighting to manufacturing, agriculture, and health care\u2014this bill is an important measure that promises to save lives, alleviate extreme poverty, boost educational opportunities, and accelerate growth on the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n

As recognized by the UN\u2019s Sustainable Energy For All initiative, energy access is one of the most urgent priorities for people in sub-Saharan Africa. The African Ambassador\u2019s Group of the United States praised news of today\u2019s bill, citing progress for development and economic growth opportunities on the continent.<\/p>\n

Ambassador Elkanah Odembo of the Republic of Kenya and Chairman of the Washington African Ambassadors Group said, \u201cMy country of Kenya, along with most others in sub-Saharan Africa, has been dealing with the disease of \u2018no light\u2019 for decades. In rural areas, women give birth by candlelight and in urban areas businesses are crippled by the lack of electricity\u2014in both, opportunities for progress are held back.\u00a0 Our governments have begun to address this important issue, but we need more private investments in the energy sector to support our government\u2019s efforts. We must fight the plague of darkness the same way we have successfully fought HIV\/AIDs and malaria\u2014together as partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Royce-Engel \u201cElectrify Africa\u201d act seeks to leverage the private sector\u2019s skills, expertise, and finance to provide increased energy access on the continent. This piece of legislation is the crucial first step the U.S. can take in helping millions of people live healthier, safer, more productive lives. The \u2018Electrify Africa Act\u2019 seeks to prioritize and coordinate U.S. government resources to achieve three goals in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020:<\/p>\n