Ben Affleck took his star power to Washington D.C. Thursday to testify about the importance of foreign aid in Africa, but even then Hollywood wasn’t far from his mind.
“I would be remiss not to recognize my co-star in ‘Batman,’” Affleck joked, when he spotted Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who had a cameo in “The Dark Knight Rises.”
“Your role was marginally smaller than mine, but I understand you are quite good,” added the “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” actor.
The Oscar winner was on Capitol Hill to testify before the Senate State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee, and was joined by fellow philanthropist Bill Gates. Affleck’s wife Jennifer Garner and nine-year-old daughter Violet were in the audience as well.
The focus of Affleck’s visit was to promote U.S. foreign assistance investments to drive economic development programs and make a lasting impact in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an area that has long been close to his heart.
A short time later, Affleck took to his Instagram page to write about his charity work in the Congo.
“I made my first trip to Congo seven years ago after reading about the two decades of conflict the Congolese people had endured. I expected to find hopelessness, but the people I encountered, like these former child soldiers, were among the most courageous and resilient I could imagine. #EasternCongo #DRC,” the politically-active actor posted.
Affleck last testified before Congress in February 2014 in front of the Senate Foreign Relations committee.
He is the founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative, which envisions an Eastern Congo vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish.
