; Whereas the African Union has mobilized peacekeeping missions to regions on the continent experiencing conflict and in 2018 revitalized the Peace Fund through which its member states will finance African peace and security operations; Whereas the United States has provided security support to the African Union Commission Peace Support Operations Division and 23 African nations; Whereas the United States supports the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goal of fostering improved education on the continent and the development of the next generation of African leaders through support for basic and secondary education, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and people-to-people ties through cultural and educational exchange programs benefitting Africa’s youth and young Americans seeking to enhance their understanding of the continent; Whereas the United States continues to support the member States of the African Union through various longstanding global health initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative, and efforts to combat infectious disease outbreaks and build the capacity of health systems to benefit the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of Africans; Whereas the United States partnered with the African Union to establish the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and remains strongly committed to assisting the Africa CDC in its fight against COVID–19 and other infectious disease outbreaks; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic and resulting border closures, travel and commercial activity restrictions, and supply chain challenges shrunk African economic output by $95 billion in 2020 alone according to the International Monetary Fund, highlighting the need for the African Union and its member States to expand their capacities to mitigate future economic shocks through self-reliance and regional economic integration