[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2646 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2646
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 6, 2018
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of
2015, 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 ``United States-Jordan Defense
Cooperation Extension Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In December 2011, Congress passed section 7041(b) of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-74;
125 Stat. 1223), which appropriated funds made available under
the heading ``Economic Support Fund'' to establish an
enterprise fund for Jordan.
(2) The intent of an enterprise fund is to attract private
investment to help entrepreneurs and small businesses create
jobs and to achieve sustainable economic development.
(3) Jordan is an instrumental partner in the fight against
terrorism, including as a member of the Global Coalition To
Counter ISIS and the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation
Inherent Resolve.
(4) In 2014, His Majesty King Abdullah stated that
``Jordanians and Americans have been standing shoulder to
shoulder against extremism for many years, but to a new level
with this coalition against ISIL''.
(5) On February 3, 2015, the United States signed a 3-year
memorandum of understanding with Jordan, pledging to provide
the kingdom with $1 billion annually in United States foreign
assistance, subject to the approval of Congress.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Jordan plays a critical role in responding to the
overwhelming humanitarian needs created by the conflict in
Syria;
(2) Jordan, the United States, and other partners should
continue working together to address this humanitarian crisis
and promote regional stability, including through support for
refugees in Jordan and internally displaced people along the
Jordan-Syria border and the creation of conditions inside Syria
that will allow for the secure, dignified, and voluntary return
of people displaced by the crisis; and
(3) the Governments of the United States and Jordan should
negotiate a new Memorandum of Understanding, for fiscal years
2018 through 2022, to significantly enhance Jordan's military
capacity and local economy.
SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF UNITED STATES-JORDAN DEFENSE COOPERATION ACT
OF 2015.
Section 5(a) of the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of
2015 (22 U.S.C. 2753 note) is amended--
(1) by striking ``During the 3-year period'' and inserting
``During the period''; and
(2) by inserting ``and ending on December 31, 2022'' after
``enactment of this Act''.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF ENTERPRISE FUND FOR JORDAN.
(a) Establishment of Jordan Enterprise Fund.--The President is
authorized to establish and operate an enterprise fund to provide
assistance to Jordan.
(b) Procedures and Requirements.--The provisions contained in
section 201 of the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of
1989 (22 U.S.C. 5421), excluding the provisions of subsections (a),
(b), (c), (d)(3), (f), and (j) of that section, shall be deemed to
apply with respect to the Jordan Enterprise Fund and to funds made
available to the enterprise fund in the same manner and to the same
extent as such provisions apply with respect to enterprise funds
established pursuant to such section or to funds made available to such
established enterprise funds.
(c) Operation of Fund.--
(1) Expenditures.--Funds made available to the Jordan
Enterprise Fund shall be expended at the minimum rate necessary
to make timely payments for projects and activities.
(2) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 3 percent of
the funds made available to the Jordan Enterprise Fund may be
obligated or expended for the administrative expenses of the
enterprise fund.
(d) Board of Directors.--
(1) In general.--The Jordan Enterprise Fund shall be
governed by a Board of Directors comprised of private citizens
of the United States or Jordan, who--
(A) shall be appointed by the President, in
consultation with the chair and ranking member of each
of the appropriate congressional committees; and
(B) have pursued international business careers and
have demonstrated expertise in international and
emerging market investment activities.
(2) Majority member requirement.--The majority of the
members of the Board of Directors shall be United States
citizens.
(e) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and annually thereafter until the Jordan Enterprise Fund
terminates in accordance with subsection (g), the Board of Directors
shall--
(1) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report detailing the administrative expenses of the enterprise
fund; and
(2) publish, on an Internet website administered by the
enterprise fund, each report submitted pursuant to subsection
(b) in accordance with section 201(p) of the Support for East
European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 (22 U.S.C. 5421(p)).
(f) Liquidation.--Any funds resulting from any liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up of the Jordan Enterprise Fund, in whole or
in part, shall be returned to the Treasury.
(g) Termination.--The authority of the Jordan Enterprise Fund to
provide assistance shall terminate on the earlier of--
(1) the date that is 7 years after the date of the first
expenditure of amounts in accordance with subsection (c)(1); or
(2) the date on which the enterprise fund is liquidated in
accordance with subsection (f).
(h) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate.
Passed the House of Representatives February 5, 2018.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.