WASHINGTON, DC — Thursday, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) joined President Barack Obama aboard Air Force One on a historic six-day trip with other U.S. lawmakers to Nairobi, Kenya and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While there, the U.S. delegation will attend the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit and seek to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve security on the African continent.
Butterfield said, “I’m honored to join President Obama on this historic trip and in representing the United States as we strengthen our partnerships with Kenya, Ethiopia, and other African allies. The African continent is strategically important to U.S. interests. It is the ancestral home of millions of African Americans who have great pride in their connection. All Americans want to see African citizens safe and secure in every respect.
“The U.S. has a unique opportunity to partner with Kenya and Ethiopia to implement policies that will not only bolster economic growth and improve security, but will also increase agricultural production and advance healthcare to better the lives of their citizens. I look forward to assisting the President in these efforts.”