S. 816 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 3, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBoosts U.S. exports to Africa and Latin America
Ever wondered how the government tries to sell more American products overseas. This bill tells the President to create a strategy to roughly triple U.S. exports of goods and services to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean over 10 years. It also requires the government to train diplomats and economic officers to help with this effort, and creates two coordinator positions at the Department of Commerce to oversee the whole plan.
How it affects you
This could matter most to American manufacturers, farmers, and service providers who sell goods and services abroad, as the strategy aims to open more markets for them. Federal employees in the State Department and Commerce Department will have new training requirements and coordination roles. For most everyday Americans, the indirect effect would depend on whether the strategy actually succeeds in creating more export-based jobs at home.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 3, 2025)
Increasing American Jobs Through Greater United States Exports to Africa and Latin America Act of 2025
This bill requires the President to establish a comprehensive U.S. strategy and a standardized training plan to increase U.S. exports to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Specifically, the bill directs the President to establish and submit to Congress a comprehensive U.S. strategy for public and private investment, trade, and development in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The strategy shall focus on increasing exports of U.S. goods and services to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean by at least 200% in real dollar value within 10 years.
Additionally, the bill directs the President to develop a plan for standardized training of (1) U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service officers, and (2) economic officers of the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The bill also directs the Department of Commerce to (1) designate a Special Africa Export Strategy Coordinator, and (2) designate a Special Latin America and the Caribbean Export Strategy Coordinator. These coordinators shall oversee the development and implementation of the strategy to increase U.S. exports to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 816
A BILL
Increasing American Jobs Through Greater United States Exports to Africa and Latin America Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) · Introduced Mar 3, 2025 · Foreign Trade and International Finance · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 3, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S1461-1462)”