Van Hollen, Rounds Bipartisan Bill to Codify U.S.-Africa Leadership Program Earns Key Committee Approval

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced the Foreign Relations Committee's unanimous passage of his and Senator Mike Rounds' (R-S.D.) Young African Leaders Initiative Act. This bipartisan legislation makes permanent the State Department's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the United States' signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders.

"YALI has been central to the United States' partnership-building efforts with nations across Africa - advancing our shared interests in expanding opportunity, strengthening civil society, and promoting peace in the region. As the continent's youth population grows, our bill will make the innovative YALI initiative permanent - an important step toward building a better, brighter future for both the people of these nations and ours. I appreciate the Committee's bipartisan, unanimous passage of this legislation, and I will continue working to move it across the finish line," said Senator Van Hollen.

With a median age of 19, the continent is home to the world's youngest population. Recognizing the immense potential of this rising generation of change-makers, YALI was launched in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across sub-Saharan Africa. This legislation also reaffirms the United States' commitment to investing in Africa's youth, promoting initiatives to enhance leadership skills, support entrepreneurship, and strengthen U.S.-Africa people-to-people ties.

Bill text can be viewed here.