Mr. Speaker. today I join with my colleagues in support of a desperately needed supplemental authorization bill for the people of Africa. I congratulate the authors of this legislation for preparing an aid package that not only authorizes emergency food but complements this assistance with needed longterm. disaster and refugee problems. As my colleagues know. the situation in 28 nations on the African Continent is dismal. One hundred fifty million peoples lives are at stake from the effects of a 3 year drought that shows no signs of subsiding. It is imperative that we act now in a bipartisan manner to provide these nations with essential and lifesaving humanitarian aid.