Politics. On Point.

  The Biden-Harris Administration  plans to invest at least $55 billion in  Africa  over the next three years, working closely with Congress .   President Biden meets with African leaders at Africa-US Leaders' Summit in Washington, D.C. The administration is dedicated to following through on these commitments and are establishing a new   Special Presidential Representative for U.S.- Africa  Leaders Summit Implementation  to coordinate these efforts.  President Biden announced his intent to name for this role Ambassador Johnnie Carson, former Assistant Secretary of State for   African   Affairs and Ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.  New investments and policy initiatives highlighted at the Summit included: People-to-People Ties Establishment of a New Diaspora Council :  The President issued an  executive order  (EO) directing the Secretary of State to establish the President’s Advisory Council on  African  Diaspora Engagement in the United States (PAC-ADE).  The PAC-ADE wi

President Biden, in his 2022 Christmas address to the country, admonished Americans to 'look out for one another', and be 'kind' to one another. Here a few excerpts from his address. "That’s why sometimes the smallest act of kindness can mean so much.  A simple smile.  A hug.  An unexpected phone call.  A quiet cup of coffee.  Simple acts of kindness that can lift a spirit, provide compo- -- comfort, and perhaps maybe even save a life.   So, this Christmas, let’s spread a little kindness.   This Christmas, let’s be that -- that helping hand, that strong shoulder, that friendly voice when no one else seems to care for those who are struggling, in trouble, in need.  It just might be the best gift you can ever give." "The Christmas story is at the heart of the Christmas -- Christian faith.  But the message of hope, love, peace, and joy, they’re also universal.   It speaks to all of us, whether we’re Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or any other fa

  December 23, 2022   TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS UNDER THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION        1.  In Proclamation 7853 of December 10, 2004, the President designated Burkina Faso as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the "Trade Act"), as added by section 111(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (the "AGOA") (title I of Public Law 106-200, 114 Stat. 251, 257-58 (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1))).      2.  Section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)) provides that the President shall terminate the designation of a country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A if the President determines that the country is not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act.      3.  Pursuant to

  December 23, 2022   EXECUTIVE ORDER   - - - - - - -   ADJUSTMENTS OF CERTAIN RATES OF PAY      By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:       Section   1 .   Statutory Pay Systems .  The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)), as adjusted under 5 U.S.C. 5303, are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:      (a)  The General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)) at Schedule 1;      (b)  The Foreign Service Schedule (22 U.S.C. 3963) at Schedule 2; and      (c)  The schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 7306, 7401, 7404; section 301(a) of Public Law 102–40) at Schedule 3.       Sec .  2 .   Senior Executive Service .  The ranges of rates of basic pay for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service, as established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382, are set forth