[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 872 Introduced in Senate (IS)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 872

 To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for United 
  States contributions to the International Fund for Ireland, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 10, 2003

Mr. Santorum introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
        referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for United 
  States contributions to the International Fund for Ireland, and for 
                            other purposes.

    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 ``Northern Ireland Peace and 
Reconciliation Support Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States has been effectively engaged in the 
        Northern Ireland peace process through both participating in 
        negotiations and contributing to the economic development of 
        Northern Ireland and border areas of the Republic of Ireland 
        that are affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland.
            (2) The Government of Ireland, the Irish people, the 
        Government of the United Kingdom, and the British people are 
        longstanding friends of the United States Government and the 
        people of the United States.
            (3) In 1986, the United States, in support of the Agreement 
        Between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the 
        United Kingdom dated November 15, 1985 (``Anglo-Irish 
        Agreement''), established the International Fund for Ireland 
        (``International Fund'') to help bolster economic development 
        and support programs that would foster peace and reconciliation 
        in Northern Ireland and the affected border areas of the 
        Republic of Ireland.
            (4) The United States has been a generous and faithful 
        donor to the International Fund, contributing more than 
        $386,000,000 to help improve relations between Catholics and 
        Protestants in Northern Ireland through the creation of 
        thousands of jobs and the development of business opportunities 
        that allow Catholics and Protestants to work together.
            (5) More than 80 percent of the International Fund's 
        investments have been in disadvantaged areas. Programs funded 
        by the investments offer work experience and important job 
        training programs to disadvantaged and unemployed youth through 
        the economic, social, and physical regeneration of such areas.
            (6) The International Fund has also developed a series of 
        community-building programs promoting greater dialogue and 
        understanding between Catholics and Protestants and leadership 
        programs designed to develop a new generation of leaders in 
        Northern Ireland to bring about a more peaceful and prosperous 
        future in the region.
            (7) Section 2(b) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act 
        of 1986 (Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 947), states that the 
        purpose of the United States contributions to the International 
        Fund is to support the promotion of ``reconciliation in 
        Northern Ireland and the establishment of a society in Northern 
        Ireland in which all may live in peace, free from 
        discrimination, terrorism, and intolerance, and with the 
        opportunity for both communities to participate fully in the 
        structures and processes of government''.
            (8) United States assistance to the International Fund has 
        contributed greatly to the economic development of Northern 
        Ireland and to accomplishing the objectives of the Anglo-Irish 
        Agreement Support Act of 1986, economic development and 
        reconciliation, which are critical to achieving a just and 
        lasting peace in the region, especially in the economically 
        depressed areas of Northern Ireland.
            (9) The Agreement Reached in the Multi-Party Negotiations 
        in Belfast on April 10, 1998 (the ``Good Friday Agreement'') 
        created the Northern Ireland Executive Assembly and Executive 
        Committee and provided for a ``democratically elected Assembly 
        in Northern Ireland which is inclusive in its membership, 
        capable of exercising executive and legislative authority, and 
        subject to safeguards to protect the rights and interests of 
        all sides of the community''.
            (10) The Good Friday Agreement also called for police 
        reform and establishment of a ``new beginning'' in policing in 
        Northern Ireland with an effective, accountable, and fair 
        police service capable of attracting and sustaining support 
        from the community as a whole, capable of maintaining law 
and order, and based on principles of protection of human rights.
            (11) In 1999, the Independent Commission on Policing in 
        Northern Ireland, a commission required by the Good Friday 
        Agreement, made 175 recommendations for policing reform in 
        Northern Ireland, some of which have been implemented.
            (12) In 2002, the Department of State issued a report 
        required by section 701(d) of the Foreign Relations 
        Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228; 116 
        Stat. 1419), entitled ``Report on Policing Reform and Human 
        Rights in Northern Ireland''. The report concluded that a new 
        police training facility and an increase in funding for police 
        training programs were critically needed in Northern Ireland.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) although there has been positive economic development 
        in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the 
        United States should continue to contribute to the 
        International Fund to support much needed programs in 
        economically depressed areas of Northern Ireland as such 
        programs remain very important to accomplishing the objectives 
        of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986;
            (2) the United States should support an expansion of 
        reconciliation projects funded by the International Fund as a 
        way to promote peace and economic stability in Northern 
        Ireland; and
            (3) as policing reform is a significant part of winning 
        public confidence and acceptance of the new form of government 
        in Northern Ireland, the International Fund should support 
        programs to enhance relations between communities and between 
        the police officers and the communities served by such 
        officers, promote human rights training for police officers, 
        and enhance peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of continued 
        conflict.

SEC. 4. PURPOSES OF THE ANGLO-IRISH AGREEMENT SUPPORT ACT OF 1986.

    Section 2(b) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 
(Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 947) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Purposes.--
            ``(1) Purpose of this act.--The purpose of this Act is to 
        provide for United States contributions in support of the 
        Anglo-Irish Agreement, such contributions to consist of 
        economic support fund assistance for payment to the 
        International Fund established pursuant to the Anglo-Irish 
        Agreement, as well other assistance to serve as an incentive 
        for economic development and reconciliation in Ireland and 
        Northern Ireland.
            ``(2) Purpose of united states contributions to the 
        international fund.--The purpose of United States contributions 
        to the International Fund is to support the Anglo-Irish 
        Agreement in promoting reconciliation in Northern Ireland and 
        the establishment of a society in Northern Ireland in which all 
        may live in peace, free from discrimination, terrorism, and 
        intolerance, and with the opportunity for both communities to 
        participate fully in the structures and processes of 
        government, including through the support of the programs 
        described in section 3(b).''.

SEC. 5. UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL FUND UNDER THE 
              ANGLO-IRISH AGREEMENT SUPPORT ACT OF 1986.

    The text of section 3 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 
1986 (Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 947) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts made 
        available for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 to carry out chapter 4 
        of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
        2346 et seq.) there are authorized to be appropriated 
        $25,000,000 for each such fiscal year for United States 
        contributions to the International Fund.
            ``(2) Availability of funds authorized.--Amounts authorized 
        to be appropriated under paragraph (1) may remain available 
        until expended.
    ``(b) Specific Programs.--
            ``(1) Police-community relations.--United States 
        contributions to the International Fund may be used to fund 
        programs to enhance relations between communities and between 
        police officers and the communities served by such officers, to 
        promote human rights training for police officers, to enhance 
        peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of continued conflict, and 
        to promote training programs to enhance the new district 
        partnership police boards recommended by the Commission into 
        Policing for Northern Ireland established by the Agreement 
        Reached in the Multi-Party Negotiations in Belfast on April 10, 
        1998.
            ``(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
        not less than 20 percent of the amount authorized to be 
        appropriated for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005 under this 
        subsection should be used to fund the programs described in 
        paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 6. CONTENT OF ANNUAL REPORT.

    Section 6(1) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 
(Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 949) is amended by inserting before the 
semicolon at the end the following: ``, including specifically through 
improving local community relations and relations between the police 
officers and the people served by such officers''.
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