New legislation to grow U.S. exports to Africa will be the topic of federal and policy expert witnesses at a hearing to be held Tuesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights and African issues.

    Joining senior U.S. State Department and U.S. Trade Representative officials will be Isaiah Washington, advocate and former star of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, as well as star of numerous films by Clint Eastwood (True Crime, 1999), Steven Soderbergh (Out of Sight, 1998,Welcome to Collingwood, 2002); Warren Beatty, (Bulworth, 1998), Martin Scorcese (Clockers, 1995), Spike Lee, (Crooklyn, 1994, Girl 6, 1996, and Get on the Bus, 1996), and; Robert Zemeckis (Ghost Ship, 2002), as well as other TV and movies. He is the founder and President of the Sierra Leone organization, the Gondobay Manga Foundation.

    “The Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act,” is the title of the hearing of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights. Smith is author of the bill, and Rep. Bobby Rush (IL-01), is the coauthor.

WHO:               Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Karen Bass (CA-33), Rep. Rush and members of the Subcommittee; Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson,  head of Bureau of African Affairs; Florizelle Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa; Isaiah Washington, television and movie actor and President of the Gondobay Manga Foundation; Scott Eisner, Exec. Dir, Africa Business Initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and; Reginald Maynor, Director of International Department, Luster Products Inc.

WHEN:             Tues., April 17; press conference with Isaiah Washington at 1:30, and hearing at 2 p.m.

WHERE:            Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172