[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 475 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 475

     Recognizing the importance of achieving the goal of the 1997 
 Microcredit Summit to provide access to microcredit to 100,000,000 of 
                     the world's poorest families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 1998

  Mr. Luther (for himself and Mr. Fox of Pennsylvania) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
 International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Banking 
 and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Recognizing the importance of achieving the goal of the 1997 
 Microcredit Summit to provide access to microcredit to 100,000,000 of 
                     the world's poorest families.

Whereas 1,300,000,000 people, which is nearly one-fifth of the population of the 
        world, live in poverty;
Whereas microcredit programs enable poor individuals to work their way out of 
        poverty with dignity by providing them with small loans at reasonable 
        interest rates, which can be used to build an asset base or improve 
        self-employment opportunities;
Whereas microcredit programs have operated successfully in developing countries 
        in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, and in 
        industrialized countries, including the United States;
Whereas more than 2,900 individuals from 137 countries attended a global 
        microcredit summit held February 2 to 4, 1997, in Washington, D.C.;
Whereas the 1997 Microcredit Summit recognized that, to be successful, a 
        strategy to address poverty must include a broad range of effective 
        initiatives, and that microcredit is one such initiative;
Whereas at the 1997 Microcredit Summit a poverty measurement discussion group 
        comprised of 600 individuals was formed, dedicated to finding effective 
        and efficient poverty measurements for different regions of the world;
Whereas the 1997 Microcredit Summit adopted the goal of providing access to 
        microcredit to 100,000,000 of the world's poorest families;
Whereas the 1997 Microcredit Summit began a campaign to achieve that goal by 
        2005, with four core themes to pursue that goal;
Whereas the first core theme is to target microcredit programs toward the 
        poorest of the poor, which is defined for industrialized countries as 
        all individuals who are below the poverty line, and for developing 
        countries as the more impoverished half of individuals who are below the 
        poverty line;
Whereas the second core theme is to target microcredit programs toward poor 
        women, who studies have shown to be very adept at saving, highly 
        creative as entrepreneurs, and consistent in applying earnings toward 
        improving the well-being of their families, but who are more likely than 
        men to be left out of poverty eradication programs;
Whereas the third core theme is to foster the financial viability of 
        institutions that offer microcredit programs; and
Whereas the fourth core theme is to make measurable, positive impacts on the 
        lives of individuals and families through microcredit programs: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance of achieving the goal of the 
        1997 Microcredit Summit to provide access to microcredit to 
        100,000,000 of the world's poorest families;
            (2) urges international and regional financial institutions 
        and other organizations to explore the use of microcredit 
        programs as a method of eradicating poverty;
            (3) encourages appropriate public agencies to support the 
        goal of the 1997 Microcredit Summit by developing, announcing, 
        and implementing institutional action plans to achieve that 
        goal;
            (4) encourages the President of the United States to foster 
        international support for the goal of the 1997 Microcredit 
        Summit in his communications with leaders of other Nations; and
            (5) calls upon the President of the United States to affirm 
        his commitment to the goal of the 1997 Microcredit Summit 
        during annual meetings of the World Bank and International 
        Monetary Fund.
                                 <all>