AGOA and MCA Modernization Act 2017-10-17 Reported to Senate with amendment(s) African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act or the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act

This bill directs the President to establish a website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The Department of State is urged to encourage eligible sub-Saharan African countries to use AGOA benefits.

The President is urged to:

  • facilitate trans-boundary trade among eligible sub-Saharan African countries;
  • provide AGOA benefits training for business and government trade officials;
  • provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, and market development; and
  • provide capacity building training.

The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is amended to permit an eligible country that has entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact to enter into one additional compact.

The bill establishes new assistance criteria for a low-income or a lower-middle-income candidate country to enter into a compact with the United States.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation shall: (1) before selecting a compact country, provide the Board of Directors with information regarding the country's treatment of civil society; and (2) assess the feasibility of developing subnational partnerships.

]]> 2017-04-05 Introduced in Senate African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act or the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act

This bill directs the President to establish a website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The Department of State is urged to encourage eligible sub-Saharan African countries to use the benefits available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

The President is urged to:

  • facilitate trans-boundary trade among eligible sub-Saharan African countries;
  • provide training for business and government trade officials on accessing AGOA benefits;
  • provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, and market development;
  • provide capacity building training to promote product diversification and value-added processing; and
  • provide capacity building and technical assistance funding to help African businesses and institutions comply with U.S. counter-terrorism policies.

The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is amended to permit an eligible country that has entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact to enter into one additional compact under specified conditions.

The bill establishes, beginning with FY2013, new assistance criteria for a low-income or a lower-middle-income candidate country eligible to enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact with the United States.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation shall: (1) before selecting a compact country, provide the Board of Directors with information regarding the country's treatment of civil society; and (2) submit an assessment of the feasibility of developing partnerships at the subnational level within candidate countries.

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