[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2819 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2819

 To establish a program to provide assistance for developing countries 
                    of Eurasia and the Middle East.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 22, 2003

 Mr. Hoeffel (for himself, Mr. Houghton, and Mr. McDermott) introduced 
      the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a program to provide assistance for developing countries 
                    of Eurasia and the Middle East.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Modern-Day Marshall Plan for Eurasia 
and the Middle East Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) After World War II, the United States established a 
        program to provide for the reconstruction of Europe, named 
        after General George C. Marshall and commonly referred to as 
        the ``Marshall Plan'', which made a significant contribution to 
        the stimulation of economic growth and international trade in 
        Europe from 1948 to 1951, thereby helping to stem the spread of 
        Communism and to foster stable political governments in Europe.
            (2) By providing assistance to Europe through the Marshall 
        Plan, the United States recognized the direct link between 
        economic growth and political stability, thereby investing 
        resources into economic development and assistance.
            (3) The Marshall Plan is chiefly characterized by its 
        integration of recipients into the development process, forming 
        a partnership whereby European countries agreed to a ``plan of 
        action'' that committed Europe to take steps toward solution of 
        its economic and political problems prior to the formulation of 
        a program of assistance.
            (4) On April 17, 2002, President Bush stated in a speech at 
        the Virginia Military Institute (VMI): ``[General] Marshall 
        knew that our military victory against enemies in World War II 
        had to be followed by a moral victory that resulted in better 
        lives for individual human beings. America has a much greater 
        purpose than just eliminating threats and containing 
        resentment. Because we believe in the dignity and value of 
        every individual, America seeks hope and opportunity for all 
        people in all cultures.''.
            (5) A principal objective of United States foreign 
        assistance programs, as stated in the Foreign Assistance Act of 
        1961, continues to be the ``encouragement and sustained support 
        of the people of developing countries in their efforts to 
        acquire the knowledge and resources essential to development 
        and to build the economic, political, and social institutions 
        which will improve the quality of their lives.''.
            (6) Significant poverty, corruption, and human rights 
        abuses in many countries of Eurasia and the Middle East 
        contribute to the political and economic deterioration of those 
        regions.
            (7) The potential resources of many countries of Eurasia 
        and the Middle East are rich and plentiful and can be developed 
        in peace and in partnership through cooperation and mutual 
        assistance.
            (8) The attacks against the United States that occurred on 
        September 11, 2001, and the subsequent global war on terrorism, 
        have enhanced United States strategic concern for the economic 
        and political future of countries of Eurasia and the Middle 
        East.
            (9) United States foreign assistance programs continue to 
        influence the direction of the Central Asia, Eurasia, and 
        Middle East regions.
            (10) In 1972, the United Nations voted to recommend that 
        developed countries should contribute an amount equal to 0.7 
        percent of their gross domestic product for assistance to 
        developing countries, however, the United States currently 
        provides an amount equal to only 0.1 percent of its gross 
        domestic product for assistance to developing countries.
            (11) The magnitude of the economic, humanitarian, and 
        political challenges in the Eurasia and Middle East regions is 
        extensive and demands consistent and enhanced input and 
        assistance from the United States, particularly through the 
        United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as 
        well as extensive coordination with other appropriate United 
        States agencies and international donor organizations, in order 
        to effectively implement development assistance and effectively 
        eliminate the causes of terrorism in these regions.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to enhance and increase United States foreign 
        assistance to the developing countries of Eurasia and the 
        Middle East; and
            (2) to assist such countries of Eurasia and the Middle East 
        to grow, prosper, and to seize the opportunities of the global 
        economy in order to achieve transparent, accountable, and 
        politically stable democratic forms of government in such 
        countries.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States Government should recognize that to promote politically stable 
and economically prosperous countries in Eurasia and the Middle East is 
in the national security interests of the United States.
    (b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United 
States--
            (1) to promote stable democracies and market economies in 
        countries of Eurasia and the Middle East;
            (2) to encourage regular dialogue between United States 
        Government officials and human rights organizations, civic 
        organizers, reform-minded politicians and democratic activists 
        in order to further democratic reform and economic stability in 
        developing countries of Eurasia and the Middle East; and
            (3) to encourage dialogue between United States Government 
        officials and private sector individuals regarding the opening 
        of markets and transparency in business practices in countries 
        of Eurasia and the Middle East.

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE POLITICAL STABILITY IN THE COUNTRIES OF 
              EURASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

    (a) In General.--The President is authorized, notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, to establish and implement a program to provide 
economic assistance for the developing countries of Eurasia and the 
Middle East in order to promote political stability in such countries.
    (b) Types of Assistance.--Assistance provided under the program 
established under subsection (a) shall include assistance to promote--
            (1) economic growth, trade, education, and infrastructure;
            (2) health, including assistance to prevent, treat, and 
        monitor HIV/AIDS, family planning assistance, and child 
        survival assistance; and
            (3) democracy building and human rights.
    (c) Terms and Conditions.--Assistance under the program established 
under subsection (a)--
            (1) shall be provided in accordance with the terms and 
        conditions utilized by the International Bank for 
        Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary 
        Fund under the ``Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers'' process 
        established by such institutions; and
            (2) shall be provided on such other terms and conditions as 
        the President determines to be appropriate.
    (d) Coordination With Other Programs.--The President shall 
coordinate the program established under subsection (a) with all other 
programs under which economic assistance is provided to countries of 
Eurasia and the Middle East.
    (e) Multilateral Assistance.--The President, acting through the 
Secretary of State and other appropriate officials of the United States 
Government, shall urge other appropriate countries to provide 
assistance to countries of Eurasia and the Middle East in accordance 
with the terms and conditions of assistance provided by the United 
States under this Act.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004 and 
each subsequent fiscal year.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to 
remain available until expended.
                                 <all>