WASHINGTON, DC -- On July 2, Philadelphia, PA will be one of 10 world-class cities to bring together millions of supporters, world leaders, activists and artists from around the world, to focus attention on the need to assist Africa with its mounting financial debt.  

More than 1 million supporters are expected to gather in Congressman Chaka Fattah's (D-PA), 2nd Congressional District to take part in Philadelphia's Live 8 Concert.  The event, one of ten held around the globe, is designed to raise public support for debt cancellation and increased foreign aid for some of Africa's poorest nations.  

"The combination of world-class artists like Philadelphia native Will Smith, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and Bon Jovi, to name a few, will be a welcomed attraction to Philadelphia, and will help shed light on the plight of some of Africa's most depressed countries," Congressman Fattah said.

As a member of the appropriations subcommittee that administers foreign aid, Congressman Fattah recently drafted legislation that was successfully adopted in the appropriations bill for Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs.  The amendment called for funds for two initiatives being touted by Congressman Fattah.  The first - the HIV/AIDS Safe Blood Program, responds to the inadequate and unhealthy blood supply throughout sub-Saharan Africa.  The second - The African Institute of Health, seeks to create a permanent African Institute of Health, modeled after America's Center's for Disease Control.