[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 123 (Thursday, October 5, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H8886-H8893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MICROENTERPRISE FOR SELF-RELIANCE AND INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT 
                                OF 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1143) to establish a program to provide 
assistance for programs of credit and other financial services for 
microenterprises in developing countries, and for other purposes, with 
a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendment, as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Microenterprise for Self-
     Reliance and International Anti-Corruption Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.

         TITLE I--MICROENTERPRISE FOR SELF-RELIANCE ACT OF 2000

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Findings and declarations of policy.
Sec. 103. Purposes.
Sec. 104. Definitions.
Sec. 105. Microenterprise development grant assistance.

[[Page H8887]]

Sec. 106. Micro- and small enterprise development credits.
Sec. 107. United States Microfinance Loan Facility.
Sec. 108. Report relating to future development of microenterprise 
              institutions.
Sec. 109. United States Agency for International Development as global 
              leader and coordinator of bilateral and multilateral 
              microenterprise assistance activities.
Sec. 110. Sense of Congress on consideration of Mexico as a key 
              priority in microenterprise funding allocations.

TITLE II--INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE ACT OF 2000

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 203. Development assistance policy.
Sec. 204. Department of the Treasury technical assistance program for 
              developing countries.
Sec. 205. Authorization of good governance programs.

       TITLE III--INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2000

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Statement of purpose.
Sec. 303. Establishment of grant program for foreign study by American 
              college students of limited financial means.
Sec. 304. Report to Congress.
Sec. 305. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 306. Effective date.

                   TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 401. Support for Overseas Cooperative Development Act.
Sec. 402. Funding of certain environmental assistance activities of 
              USAID.
Sec. 403. Processing of applications for transportation of humanitarian 
              assistance abroad by the Department of Defense.
Sec. 404. Working capital fund.
Sec. 405. Increase in authorized number of employees and 
              representatives of the United States mission to the 
              United Nations provided living quarters in New York.
Sec. 406. Availability of VOA and Radio Marti multilingual computer 
              readable text and voice recordings.
Sec. 407. Availability of certain materials of the Voice of America.
Sec. 408. Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program Act of 2000.

         TITLE I--MICROENTERPRISE FOR SELF-RELIANCE ACT OF 2000

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Microenterprise for Self-
     Reliance Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 102. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.

       Congress makes the following findings and declarations:
       (1) According to the World Bank, more than 1,200,000,000 
     people in the developing world, or one-fifth of the world's 
     population, subsist on less than $1 a day.
       (2) Over 32,000 of their children die each day from largely 
     preventable malnutrition and disease.
       (3)(A) Women in poverty generally have larger work loads 
     and less access to educational and economic opportunities 
     than their male counterparts.
       (B) Directly aiding the poorest of the poor, especially 
     women, in the developing world has a positive effect not only 
     on family incomes, but also on child nutrition, health and 
     education, as women in particular reinvest income in their 
     families.
       (4)(A) The poor in the developing world, particularly 
     women, generally lack stable employment and social safety 
     nets.
       (B) Many turn to self-employment to generate a substantial 
     portion of their livelihood. In Africa, over 80 percent of 
     employment is generated in the informal sector of the self-
     employed poor.
       (C) These poor entrepreneurs are often trapped in poverty 
     because they cannot obtain credit at reasonable rates to 
     build their asset base or expand their otherwise viable self-
     employment activities.
       (D) Many of the poor are forced to pay interest rates as 
     high as 10 percent per day to money lenders.
       (5)(A) The poor are able to expand their incomes and their 
     businesses dramatically when they can access loans at 
     reasonable interest rates.
       (B) Through the development of self-sustaining microfinance 
     programs, poor people themselves can lead the fight against 
     hunger and poverty.
       (6)(A) On February 2-4, 1997, a global Microcredit Summit 
     was held in Washington, District of Columbia, to launch a 
     plan to expand access to credit for self-employment and other 
     financial and business services to 100,000,000 of the world's 
     poorest families, especially the women of those families, by 
     2005. While this scale of outreach may not be achievable in 
     this short time-period, the realization of this goal could 
     dramatically alter the face of global poverty.
       (B) With an average family size of five, achieving this 
     goal will mean that the benefits of microfinance will thereby 
     reach nearly half of the world's more than 1,000,000,000 
     absolute poor people.
       (7)(A) Nongovernmental organizations, such as those that 
     comprise the Microenterprise Coalition (such as the Grameen 
     Bank (Bangladesh,) K-REP (Kenya), and networks such as Accion 
     International, the Foundation for International Community 
     Assistance (FINCA), and the credit union movement) are 
     successful in lending directly to the very poor.
       (B) Microfinance institutions such as BRAC (Bangladesh), 
     BancoSol (Bolivia), SEWA Bank (India), and ACEP (Senegal) are 
     regulated financial institutions that can raise funds 
     directly from the local and international capital markets.
       (8)(A) Microenterprise institutions not only reduce 
     poverty, but also reduce the dependency on foreign 
     assistance.
       (B) Interest income on the credit portfolio is used to pay 
     recurring institutional costs, assuring the long-term 
     sustainability of development assistance.
       (9) Microfinance institutions leverage foreign assistance 
     resources because loans are recycled, generating new benefits 
     to program participants.
       (10)(A) The development of sustainable microfinance 
     institutions that provide credit and training, and mobilize 
     domestic savings, is a critical component to a global 
     strategy of poverty reduction and broad-based economic 
     development.
       (B) In the efforts of the United States to lead the 
     development of a new global financial architecture, 
     microenterprise should play a vital role. The recent shocks 
     to international financial markets demonstrate how the 
     financial sector can shape the destiny of nations. 
     Microfinance can serve as a powerful tool for building a more 
     inclusive financial sector which serves the broad majority of 
     the world's population including the very poor and women and 
     thus generate more social stability and prosperity.
       (C) Over the last two decades, the United States has been a 
     global leader in promoting the global microenterprise sector, 
     primarily through its development assistance programs at the 
     United States Agency for International Development. 
     Additionally, the Department of the Treasury and the 
     Department of State have used their authority to promote 
     microenterprise in the development programs of international 
     financial institutions and the United Nations.
       (11)(A) In 1994, the United States Agency for International 
     Development launched the ``Microenterprise Initiative'' in 
     partnership with the Congress.
       (B) The initiative committed to expanding funding for the 
     microenterprise programs of the Agency, and set a goal that, 
     by the end of fiscal year 1996, one-half of all 
     microenterprise resources would support programs and 
     institutions that provide credit to the poorest, with loans 
     under $300.
       (C) In order to achieve the goal of the microcredit summit, 
     increased investment in microfinance institutions serving the 
     poorest will be critical.
       (12) Providing the United States share of the global 
     investment needed to achieve the goal of the microcredit 
     summit will require only a small increase in United States 
     funding for international microcredit programs, with an 
     increased focus on institutions serving the poorest.
       (13)(A) In order to reach tens of millions of the poorest 
     with microcredit, it is crucial to expand and replicate 
     successful microfinance institutions.
       (B) These institutions need assistance in developing their 
     institutional capacity to expand their services and tap 
     commercial sources of capital.
       (14) Nongovernmental organizations have demonstrated 
     competence in developing networks of local microfinance 
     institutions and other assistance delivery mechanisms so that 
     they reach large numbers of the very poor, and achieve 
     financial sustainability.
       (15) Recognizing that the United States Agency for 
     International Development has developed very effective 
     partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, and that the 
     Agency will have fewer missions overseas to carry out its 
     work, the Agency should place priority on investing in those 
     nongovernmental network institutions that meet performance 
     criteria through the central funding mechanisms of the 
     Agency.
       (16) By expanding and replicating successful microfinance 
     institutions, it should be possible to create a global 
     infrastructure to provide financial services to the world's 
     poorest families.
       (17)(A) The United States can provide leadership to other 
     bilateral and multilateral development agencies as such 
     agencies expand their support to the microenterprise sector.
       (B) The United States should seek to improve coordination 
     among G-7 countries in the support of the microenterprise 
     sector in order to leverage the investment of the United 
     States with that of other donor nations.
       (18) Through increased support for microenterprise, 
     especially credit for the poorest, the United States can 
     continue to play a leadership role in the global effort to 
     expand financial services and opportunity to 100,000,000 of 
     the poorest families on the planet.

     SEC. 103. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this title are--
       (1) to make microenterprise development an important 
     element of United States foreign economic policy and 
     assistance;
       (2) to provide for the continuation and expansion of the 
     commitment of the United States Agency for International 
     Development to the development of microenterprise 
     institutions as outlined in its 1994 Microenterprise 
     Initiative;
       (3) to support and develop the capacity of United States 
     and indigenous nongovernmental organization intermediaries to 
     provide credit, savings, training, technical assistance, and 
     business development services to microentrepreneurs;
       (4) to emphasize financial services and substantially 
     increase the amount of assistance devoted to both financial 
     services and complementary business development services 
     designed to reach the poorest people in developing countries, 
     particularly women; and
       (5) to encourage the United States Agency for International 
     Development to coordinate microfinance policy, in 
     consultation with the Department of the Treasury and the 
     Department of

[[Page H8888]]

     State, and to provide global leadership among bilateral and 
     multilateral donors in promoting microenterprise for the 
     poorest of the poor.

     SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Business development services.--The term ``business 
     development services'' means support for the growth of 
     microenterprises through training, technical assistance, 
     marketing assistance, improved production technologies, and 
     other services.
       (2) Microenterprise institution.--The term 
     ``microenterprise institution'' means an institution that 
     provides services, including microfinance, training, or 
     business development services, for microentrepreneurs.
       (3) Microfinance institution.--The term ``microfinance 
     institution'' means an institution that directly provides, or 
     works to expand, the availability of credit, savings, and 
     other financial services to microentrepreneurs.
       (4) Practitioner institution.--The term ``practitioner 
     institution'' means any institution that provides services, 
     including microfinance, training, or business development 
     services, for microentrepreneurs, or provides assistance to 
     microenterprise institutions.

     SEC. 105. MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ASSISTANCE.

       Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 131. MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ASSISTANCE.

       ``(a) Findings and Policy.--Congress finds and declares 
     that--
       ``(1) the development of microenterprise is a vital factor 
     in the stable growth of developing countries and in the 
     development of free, open, and equitable international 
     economic systems;
       ``(2) it is therefore in the best interest of the United 
     States to assist the development of microenterprises in 
     developing countries; and
       ``(3) the support of microenterprise can be served by 
     programs providing credit, savings, training, technical 
     assistance, and business development services.
       ``(b) Authorization.--
       ``(1) In general.--In carrying out this part, the President 
     is authorized to provide grant assistance for programs to 
     increase the availability of credit and other services to 
     microenterprises lacking full access to capital training, 
     technical assistance, and business development services, 
     through--
       ``(A) grants to microfinance institutions for the purpose 
     of expanding the availability of credit, savings, and other 
     financial services to microentrepreneurs;
       ``(B) grants to microenterprise institutions for the 
     purpose of training, technical assistance, and business 
     development services for microenterprises to enable them to 
     make better use of credit, to better manage their 
     enterprises, and to increase their income and build their 
     assets;
       ``(C) capacity-building for microenterprise institutions in 
     order to enable them to better meet the credit and training 
     needs of microentrepreneurs; and
       ``(D) policy and regulatory programs at the country level 
     that improve the environment for microentrepreneurs and 
     microenterprise institutions that serve the poor and very 
     poor.
       ``(2) Implementation.--Assistance authorized under 
     paragraph (1) (A) and (B) shall be provided through 
     organizations that have a capacity to develop and implement 
     microenterprise programs, including particularly--
       ``(A) United States and indigenous private and voluntary 
     organizations;
       ``(B) United States and indigenous credit unions and 
     cooperative organizations; or
       ``(C) other indigenous governmental and nongovernmental 
     organizations.
       ``(3) Targeted assistance.--In carrying out sustainable 
     poverty-focused programs under paragraph (1), 50 percent of 
     all microenterprise resources shall be targeted to very poor 
     entrepreneurs, defined as those living in the bottom 50 
     percent below the poverty line as established by the national 
     government of the country. Specifically, such resources shall 
     be used for--
       ``(A) direct support of programs under this subsection 
     through practitioner institutions that--
       ``(i) provide credit and other financial services to 
     entrepreneurs who are very poor, with loans in 1995 United 
     States dollars of--

       ``(I) $1,000 or less in the Europe and Eurasia region;
       ``(II) $400 or less in the Latin America region; and
       ``(III) $300 or less in the rest of the world; and

       ``(ii) can cover their costs in a reasonable time period; 
     or
       ``(B) demand-driven business development programs that 
     achieve reasonable cost recovery that are provided to clients 
     holding poverty loans (as defined by the regional poverty 
     loan limitations in subparagraph (A)(i)), whether they are 
     provided by microfinance institutions or by specialized 
     business development services providers.
       ``(4) Support for central mechanisms.--The President should 
     continue support for central mechanisms and missions, as 
     appropriate, that--
       ``(A) provide technical support for field missions;
       ``(B) strengthen the institutional development of the 
     intermediary organizations described in paragraph (2);
       ``(C) share information relating to the provision of 
     assistance authorized under paragraph (1) between such field 
     missions and intermediary organizations; and
       ``(D) support the development of nonprofit global 
     microfinance networks, including credit union systems, that--
       ``(i) are able to deliver very small loans through a 
     significant grassroots infrastructure based on market 
     principles; and
       ``(ii) act as wholesale intermediaries providing a range of 
     services to microfinance retail institutions, including 
     financing, technical assistance, capacity-building, and 
     safety and soundness accreditation.
       ``(5) Limitation.--Assistance provided under this 
     subsection may only be used to support microenterprise 
     programs and may not be used to support programs not directly 
     related to the purposes described in paragraph (1).
       ``(c) Monitoring System.--In order to maximize the 
     sustainable development impact of the assistance authorized 
     under subsection (b)(1), the Administrator of the agency 
     primarily responsible for administering this part shall 
     establish a monitoring system that--
       ``(1) establishes performance goals for such assistance and 
     expresses such goals in an objective and quantifiable form, 
     to the extent feasible;
       ``(2) establishes performance indicators to be used in 
     measuring or assessing the achievement of the goals and 
     objectives of such assistance;
       ``(3) provides a basis for recommendations for adjustments 
     to such assistance to enhance the sustainable development 
     impact of such assistance, particularly the impact of such 
     assistance on the very poor, particularly poor women; and
       ``(4) provides a basis for recommendations for adjustments 
     to measures for reaching the poorest of the poor, including 
     proposed legislation containing amendments to enhance the 
     sustainable development impact of such assistance, as 
     described in paragraph (3).
       ``(d) Level of Assistance.--Of the funds made available 
     under this part, the FREEDOM Support Act, and the Support for 
     East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989, including local 
     currencies derived from such funds, there are authorized to 
     be available $155,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 
     and 2002, to carry out this section.
       ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Business development services.--The term `business 
     development services' means support for the growth of 
     microenterprises through training, technical assistance, 
     marketing assistance, improved production technologies, and 
     other services.
       ``(2) Microenterprise institution.--The term 
     `microenterprise institution' means an institution that 
     provides services, including microfinance, training, or 
     business development services, for microentrepreneurs.
       ``(3) Microfinance institution.--The term `microfinance 
     institution' means an institution that directly provides, or 
     works to expand, the availability of credit, savings, and 
     other financial services to microentrepreneurs.
       ``(4) Practitioner institution.--The term `practitioner 
     institution' means any institution that provides services, 
     including microfinance, training, or business development 
     services, for microentrepreneurs, or provides assistance to 
     microenterprise institutions.''.

     SEC. 106. MICRO- AND SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CREDITS.

       Section 108 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2151f) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 108. MICRO- AND SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CREDITS.

       ``(a) Findings and Policy.--Congress finds and declares 
     that--
       ``(1) the development of micro- and small enterprises is a 
     vital factor in the stable growth of developing countries and 
     in the development and stability of a free, open, and 
     equitable international economic system; and
       ``(2) it is, therefore, in the best interests of the United 
     States to assist the development of the enterprises of the 
     poor in developing countries and to engage the United States 
     private sector in that process.
       ``(b) Program.--To carry out the policy set forth in 
     subsection (a), the President is authorized to provide 
     assistance to increase the availability of credit to micro- 
     and small enterprises lacking full access to credit, 
     including through--
       ``(1) loans and guarantees to credit institutions for the 
     purpose of expanding the availability of credit to micro- and 
     small enterprises;
       ``(2) training programs for lenders in order to enable them 
     to better meet the credit needs of microentrepreneurs; and
       ``(3) training programs for microentrepreneurs in order to 
     enable them to make better use of credit and to better manage 
     their enterprises.
       ``(c) Eligibility Criteria.--The Administrator of the 
     agency primarily responsible for administering this part 
     shall establish criteria for determining which credit 
     institutions described in subsection (b)(1) are eligible to 
     carry out activities, with respect to micro- and small 
     enterprises, assisted under this section. Such criteria may 
     include the following:
       ``(1) The extent to which the recipients of credit from the 
     entity do not have access to the local formal financial 
     sector.
       ``(2) The extent to which the recipients of credit from the 
     entity are among the poorest people in the country.
       ``(3) The extent to which the entity is oriented toward 
     working directly with poor women.
       ``(4) The extent to which the entity recovers its cost of 
     lending.
       ``(5) The extent to which the entity implements a plan to 
     become financially sustainable.
       ``(d) Additional Requirement.--Assistance provided under 
     this section may only be used to support micro- and small 
     enterprise programs and may not be used to support programs 
     not directly related to the purposes described in subsection 
     (b).
       ``(e) Procurement provision.--Assistance may be provided 
     under this section without regard to section 604(a).
       ``(f) Availability of Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts authorized to be 
     available to carry out section 131, there are authorized to 
     be available $1,500,000 for each of

[[Page H8889]]

     fiscal years 2001 and 2002 to carry out this section.
       ``(2) Coverage of subsidy costs.--Amounts authorized to be 
     available under paragraph (1) shall be made available to 
     cover the subsidy cost, as defined in section 502(5) of the 
     Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, for activities under this 
     section.''.

     SEC. 107. UNITED STATES MICROFINANCE LOAN FACILITY.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), as amended 
     by section 105 of this Act, is further amended by adding at 
     the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 132. UNITED STATES MICROFINANCE LOAN FACILITY.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Administrator is authorized to 
     establish a United States Microfinance Loan Facility (in this 
     section referred to as the `Facility') to pool and manage the 
     risk from natural disasters, war or civil conflict, national 
     financial crisis, or short-term financial movements that 
     threaten the long-term development of United States-supported 
     microfinance institutions.
       ``(b) Disbursements.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall make 
     disbursements from the Facility to United States-supported 
     microfinance institutions to prevent the bankruptcy of such 
     institutions caused by--
       ``(A) natural disasters;
       ``(B) national wars or civil conflict; or
       ``(C) national financial crisis or other short-term 
     financial movements that threaten the long-term development 
     of United States-supported microfinance institutions.
       ``(2) Form of assistance.--Assistance under this section 
     shall be in the form of loans or loan guarantees for 
     microfinance institutions that demonstrate the capacity to 
     resume self-sustained operations within a reasonable time 
     period.
       ``(3) Congressional notification procedures.--During each 
     of the fiscal years 2001 and 2002, funds may not be made 
     available from the Facility until 15 days after notification 
     of the proposed availability of the funds has been provided 
     to the congressional committees specified in section 634A in 
     accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming 
     notifications under that section.
       ``(c) General Provisions.--
       ``(1) Policy provisions.--In providing the credit 
     assistance authorized by this section, the Administrator 
     should apply, as appropriate, the policy provisions in this 
     part that are applicable to development assistance 
     activities.
       ``(2) Default and procurement provisions.--
       ``(A) Default provision.--The provisions of section 620(q), 
     or any comparable provision of law, shall not be construed to 
     prohibit assistance to a country in the event that a private 
     sector recipient of assistance furnished under this section 
     is in default in its payment to the United States for the 
     period specified in such section.
       ``(B) Procurement provision.--Assistance may be provided 
     under this section without regard to section 604(a).
       ``(3) Terms and conditions of credit assistance.--
       ``(A) In general.--Credit assistance provided under this 
     section shall be offered on such terms and conditions, 
     including fees charged, as the Administrator may determine.
       ``(B) Limitation on principal amount of financing.--The 
     principal amount of loans made or guaranteed under this 
     section in any fiscal year, with respect to any single event, 
     may not exceed $30,000,000.
       ``(C) Exception.--No payment may be made under any 
     guarantee issued under this section for any loss arising out 
     of fraud or misrepresentation for which the party seeking 
     payment is responsible.
       ``(4) Full faith and credit.--All guarantees issued under 
     this section shall constitute obligations, in accordance with 
     the terms of such guarantees, of the United States of 
     America, and the full faith and credit of the United States 
     of America is hereby pledged for the full payment and 
     performance of such obligations to the extent of the 
     guarantee.
       ``(d) Funding.--
       ``(1) Allocation of funds.--Of the amounts made available 
     to carry out this part for the fiscal year 2001, up to 
     $5,000,000 may be made available for--
       ``(A) the subsidy cost, as defined in section 502(5) of the 
     Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, to carry out this section; 
     and
       ``(B) the administrative costs to carry out this section.
       ``(2) Relation to other funding.--Amounts made available 
     under paragraph (1) are in addition to amounts available 
     under any other provision of law to carry out this section.
       ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
     Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for 
     administering this part.
       ``(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
     International Relations of the House of Representatives.
       ``(3) United states-supported microfinance institution.--
     The term `United States-supported microfinance institution' 
     means a financial intermediary that has received funds made 
     available under part I of this Act for fiscal year 1980 or 
     any subsequent fiscal year.''.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development shall submit to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on International Relations of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the policies, rules, and 
     regulations of the United States Microfinance Loan Facility 
     established under section 132 of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961, as added by subsection (a).

     SEC. 108. REPORT RELATING TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF 
                   MICROENTERPRISE INSTITUTIONS.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on the most 
     cost-effective methods and measurements for increasing the 
     access of poor people overseas to credit, other financial 
     services, and related training.
       (b) Contents.--The report described in subsection (a)--
       (1) shall include how the President, in consultation with 
     the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, the Secretary of State, and the 
     Secretary of the Treasury, will develop a comprehensive 
     strategy for advancing the global microenterprise sector in a 
     way that maintains market principles while ensuring that the 
     very poor overseas, particularly women, obtain access to 
     financial services overseas;
       (2) shall provide guidelines and recommendations for--
       (A) instruments to assist microenterprise networks to 
     develop multi-country and regional microlending programs;
       (B) technical assistance to foreign governments, foreign 
     central banks, and regulatory entities to improve the policy 
     environment for microfinance institutions, and to strengthen 
     the capacity of supervisory bodies to supervise microfinance 
     institutions;
       (C) the potential for Federal chartering of United States-
     based international microfinance network institutions, 
     including proposed legislation;
       (D) instruments to increase investor confidence in 
     microfinance institutions which would strengthen the long-
     term financial position of the microfinance institutions and 
     attract capital from private sector entities and individuals, 
     such as a rating system for microfinance institutions and 
     local credit bureaus;
       (E) an agenda for integrating microfinance into United 
     States foreign policy initiatives seeking to develop and 
     strengthen the global finance sector; and
       (F) innovative instruments to attract funds from the 
     capital markets, such as instruments for leveraging funds 
     from the local commercial banking sector, and the 
     securitization of microloan portfolios; and
       (3) shall include a section that assesses the need for a 
     microenterprise accelerated growth fund and that includes--
       (A) a description of the benefits of such a fund;
       (B) an identification of which microenterprise institutions 
     might become eligible for assistance from such fund;
       (C) a description of how such a fund could be administered;
       (D) a recommendation on which agency or agencies of the 
     United States Government should administer the fund and 
     within which such agency the fund should be located; and
       (E) a recommendation on how soon it might be necessary to 
     establish such a fund in order to provide the support 
     necessary for microenterprise institutions involved in 
     microenterprise development.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means the Committee on International Relations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
     the Senate.

     SEC. 109. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
                   AS GLOBAL LEADER AND COORDINATOR OF BILATERAL 
                   AND MULTILATERAL MICROENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE 
                   ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Findings and Policy.--Congress finds and declares 
     that--
       (1) the United States can provide leadership to other 
     bilateral and multilateral development agencies as such 
     agencies expand their support to the microenterprise sector; 
     and
       (2) the United States should seek to improve coordination 
     among G-7 countries in the support of the microenterprise 
     sector in order to leverage the investment of the United 
     States with that of other donor nations.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development and the Secretary of State should 
     seek to support and strengthen the effectiveness of 
     microfinance activities in United Nations agencies, such as 
     the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which have 
     provided key leadership in developing the microenterprise 
     sector; and
       (2) the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct each 
     United States Executive Director of the multilateral 
     development banks (MDBs) to advocate the development of a 
     coherent and coordinated strategy to support the 
     microenterprise sector and an increase of multilateral 
     resource flows for the purposes of building microenterprise 
     retail and wholesale intermediaries.

     SEC. 110. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON CONSIDERATION OF MEXICO AS A 
                   KEY PRIORITY IN MICROENTERPRISE FUNDING 
                   ALLOCATIONS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) An estimated 45,000,000 of Mexico's 100,000,000 
     population currently lives below the poverty line, accounting 
     for 20 percent of all poor in Latin America.
       (2) Mexico cannot create enough salaried jobs to absorb new 
     workers entering the labor force.
       (3) While many poor families depend on microenterprise 
     initiatives to generate a livelihood,

[[Page H8890]]

     the United States Agency for International Development 
     currently has 2 microcredit projects in Mexico, receiving 
     less than one percent of overall microenterprise funding in 
     Latin America and the Caribbean during the last decade.
       (4) Mexico's microenterprise activity has been constrained 
     because its financial institutions cannot expand financial 
     services to a larger clientele due to a lack of capital, 
     inefficient financial and administrative management, and a 
     lack of institutional support for microfinance institutions' 
     particular needs.
       (5) Mexican nongovernmental organizations, such as 
     Compartamos, have demonstrated competence in developing local 
     microfinance programs.
       (6) On July 2, 2000, Vicente Fox Quesada of the Alliance 
     for Change was elected President of the United Mexican 
     States.
       (7) The President-elect of Mexico has identified 
     entrepreneurship and the start-up of new microcredit 
     institutions as key economic priorities.
       (8) Microenterprise and entrepreneurial initiatives have 
     proven to be successful components of free market development 
     and economic stability.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) providing Mexico's poor with economic opportunity and 
     microfinance services is fundamental to Mexico's economic 
     development;
       (2) microenterprise can have a positive impact on Mexico's 
     free market development; and
       (3) the United States Agency for International Development 
     should consider Mexico as a key priority in its 
     microenterprise funding allocations.

TITLE II--INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE ACT OF 2000

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``International Anti-
     Corruption and Good Governance Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 202. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Widespread corruption endangers the stability and 
     security of societies, undermines democracy, and jeopardizes 
     the social, political, and economic development of a society.
       (2) Corruption facilitates criminal activities, such as 
     money laundering, hinders economic development, inflates the 
     costs of doing business, and undermines the legitimacy of the 
     government and public trust.
       (3) In January 1997 the United Nations General Assembly 
     adopted a resolution urging member states to carefully 
     consider the problems posed by the international aspects of 
     corrupt practices and to study appropriate legislative and 
     regulatory measures to ensure the transparency and integrity 
     of financial systems.
       (4) The United States was the first country to criminalize 
     international bribery through the enactment of the Foreign 
     Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and United States leadership 
     was instrumental in the passage of the Organization for 
     Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Convention on 
     Combatting Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in 
     International Business Transactions.
       (5) The Vice President, at the Global Forum on Fighting 
     Corruption in 1999, declared corruption to be a direct threat 
     to the rule of law and the Secretary of State declared 
     corruption to be a matter of profound political and social 
     consequence for our efforts to strengthen democratic 
     governments.
       (6) The Secretary of State, at the Inter-American 
     Development Bank's annual meeting in March 2000, declared 
     that despite certain economic achievements, democracy is 
     being threatened as citizens grow weary of the corruption and 
     favoritism of their official institutions and that efforts 
     must be made to improve governance if respect for democratic 
     institutions is to be regained.
       (7) In May 1996 the Organization of American States (OAS) 
     adopted the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption 
     requiring countries to provide various forms of international 
     cooperation and assistance to facilitate the prevention, 
     investigation, and prosecution of acts of corruption.
       (8) Independent media, committed to fighting corruption and 
     trained in investigative journalism techniques, can both 
     educate the public on the costs of corruption and act as a 
     deterrent against corrupt officials.
       (9) Competent and independent judiciary, founded on a 
     merit-based selection process and trained to enforce 
     contracts and protect property rights, is critical for 
     creating a predictable and consistent environment for 
     transparency in legal procedures.
       (10) Independent and accountable legislatures, responsive 
     political parties, and transparent electoral processes, in 
     conjunction with professional, accountable, and transparent 
     financial management and procurement policies and procedures, 
     are essential to the promotion of good governance and to the 
     combat of corruption.
       (11) Transparent business frameworks, including modern 
     commercial codes and intellectual property rights, are vital 
     to enhancing economic growth and decreasing corruption at all 
     levels of society.
       (12) The United States should attempt to improve 
     accountability in foreign countries, including by--
       (A) promoting transparency and accountability through 
     support for independent media, promoting financial disclosure 
     by public officials, political parties, and candidates for 
     public office, open budgeting processes, adequate and 
     effective internal control systems, suitable financial 
     management systems, and financial and compliance reporting;
       (B) supporting the establishment of audit offices, 
     inspectors general offices, third party monitoring of 
     government procurement processes, and anti-corruption 
     agencies;
       (C) promoting responsive, transparent, and accountable 
     legislatures that ensure legislative oversight and whistle-
     blower protection;
       (D) promoting judicial reforms that criminalize corruption 
     and promoting law enforcement that prosecutes corruption;
       (E) fostering business practices that promote transparent, 
     ethical, and competitive behavior in the private sector 
     through the development of an effective legal framework for 
     commerce, including anti-bribery laws, commercial codes that 
     incorporate international standards for business practices, 
     and protection of intellectual property rights; and
       (F) promoting free and fair national, state, and local 
     elections.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this title is to ensure that 
     United States assistance programs promote good governance by 
     assisting other countries to combat corruption throughout 
     society and to improve transparency and accountability at all 
     levels of government and throughout the private sector.

     SEC. 203. DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE POLICY.

       (a) General Policy.--Section 101(a) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151(a)) is amended in the 
     fifth sentence--
       (1) by striking ``four'' and inserting ``five'';
       (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
       (3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) the promotion of good governance through combating 
     corruption and improving transparency and accountability.''.
       (b) Development Assistance Policy.--Section 102(b) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151-1(b)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);
       (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) progress in combating corruption and improving 
     transparency and accountability in the public and private 
     sector.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(17) Economic reform and development of effective 
     institutions of democratic governance are mutually 
     reinforcing. The successful transition of a developing 
     country is dependent upon the quality of its economic and 
     governance institutions. Rule of law, mechanisms of 
     accountability and transparency, security of person, 
     property, and investments, are but a few of the critical 
     governance and economic reforms that underpin the 
     sustainability of broad-based economic growth. Programs in 
     support of such reforms strengthen the capacity of people to 
     hold their governments accountable and to create economic 
     opportunity.''.

     SEC. 204. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
                   PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

       Section 129(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2151aa(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(3) Emphasis on anti-corruption.--Such technical 
     assistance shall include elements designed to combat anti-
     competitive, unethical, and corrupt activities, including 
     protection against actions that may distort or inhibit 
     transparency in market mechanisms and, to the extent 
     applicable, privatization procedures.''.

     SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), as amended 
     by sections 105 and 107, is further amended by adding at the 
     end the following:

     ``SEC. 133. PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE GOOD GOVERNANCE.

       ``(a) Establishment of Programs.--
       ``(1) In general.--The President is authorized to establish 
     programs that combat corruption, improve transparency and 
     accountability, and promote other forms of good governance in 
     countries described in paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Countries described.--A country described in this 
     paragraph is a country that is eligible to receive assistance 
     under this part (including chapter 4 of part II of this Act) 
     or the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 
     1989.
       ``(3) Priority.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
     President shall give priority to establishing programs in 
     countries that received a significant amount of United States 
     foreign assistance for the prior fiscal year, or in which the 
     United States has a significant economic interest, and that 
     continue to have the most persistent problems with public and 
     private corruption. In determining which countries have the 
     most persistent problems with public and private corruption 
     under the preceding sentence, the President shall take into 
     account criteria such as the Transparency International 
     Annual Corruption Perceptions Index, standards and codes set 
     forth by the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
     Development and the International Monetary Fund, and other 
     relevant criteria.
       ``(4) Relation to other laws.--
       ``(A) In general.--Assistance provided for countries under 
     programs established pursuant to paragraph (1) may be made 
     available notwithstanding any other provision of law that 
     restricts assistance to foreign countries. Assistance 
     provided under a program established pursuant to paragraph 
     (1) for a country that would otherwise be restricted from 
     receiving such assistance but for the preceding sentence may 
     not be provided directly to the government of the country.
       ``(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) does not apply with 
     respect to--
       ``(i) section 620A of this Act or any comparable provision 
     of law prohibiting assistance

[[Page H8891]]

     to countries that support international terrorism; or
       ``(ii) section 907 of the Freedom for Russia and Emerging 
     Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992.
       ``(b) Specific Projects and Activities.--The programs 
     established pursuant to subsection (a) shall include, to the 
     extent appropriate, projects and activities that--
       ``(1) support responsible independent media to promote 
     oversight of public and private institutions;
       ``(2) implement financial disclosure among public 
     officials, political parties, and candidates for public 
     office, open budgeting processes, and transparent financial 
     management systems;
       ``(3) support the establishment of audit offices, 
     inspectors general offices, third party monitoring of 
     government procurement processes, and anti-corruption 
     agencies;
       ``(4) promote responsive, transparent, and accountable 
     legislatures and local governments that ensure legislative 
     and local oversight and whistle-blower protection;
       ``(5) promote legal and judicial reforms that criminalize 
     corruption and law enforcement reforms and development that 
     encourage prosecutions of criminal corruption;
       ``(6) assist in the development of a legal framework for 
     commercial transactions that fosters business practices that 
     promote transparent, ethical, and competitive behavior in the 
     economic sector, such as commercial codes that incorporate 
     international standards and protection of intellectual 
     property rights;
       ``(7) promote free and fair national, state, and local 
     elections;
       ``(8) foster public participation in the legislative 
     process and public access to government information; and
       ``(9) engage civil society in the fight against corruption.
       ``(c) Conduct of Projects and Activities.--Projects and 
     activities under the programs established pursuant to 
     subsection (a) may include, among other things, training and 
     technical assistance (including drafting of anti-corruption, 
     privatization, and competitive statutory and administrative 
     codes), drafting of anti-corruption, privatization, and 
     competitive statutory and administrative codes, support for 
     independent media and publications, financing of the program 
     and operating costs of nongovernmental organizations that 
     carry out such projects or activities, and assistance for 
     travel of individuals to the United States and other 
     countries for such projects and activities.
       ``(d) Annual Report.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development, shall 
     prepare and transmit to the Committee on International 
     Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
     the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate an annual 
     report on--
       ``(A) projects and activities carried out under programs 
     established under subsection (a) for the prior year in 
     priority countries identified pursuant to subsection (a)(3); 
     and
       ``(B) projects and activities carried out under programs to 
     combat corruption, improve transparency and accountability, 
     and promote other forms of good governance established under 
     other provisions of law for the prior year in such countries.
       ``(2) Required contents.--The report required by paragraph 
     (1) shall contain the following information with respect to 
     each country described in paragraph (1):
       ``(A) A description of all United States Government-funded 
     programs and initiatives to combat corruption and improve 
     transparency and accountability in the country.
       ``(B) A description of United States diplomatic efforts to 
     combat corruption and improve transparency and accountability 
     in the country.
       ``(C) An analysis of major actions taken by the government 
     of the country to combat corruption and improve transparency 
     and accountability in the country.
       ``(e) Funding.--Amounts made available to carry out the 
     other provisions of this part (including chapter 4 of part II 
     of this Act) and the Support for East European Democracy 
     (SEED) Act of 1989 shall be made available to carry out this 
     section.''.
       (b) Deadline for Initial Report.--The initial annual report 
     required by section 133(d)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961, as added by subsection (a), shall be transmitted not 
     later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

       TITLE III--INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2000

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``International Academic 
     Opportunity Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 302. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

       It is the purpose of this title to establish an 
     undergraduate grant program for students of limited financial 
     means from the United States to enable such students to study 
     abroad. Such foreign study is intended to broaden the outlook 
     and better prepare such students of demonstrated financial 
     need to assume significant roles in the increasingly global 
     economy.

     SEC. 303. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN STUDY BY 
                   AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS OF LIMITED FINANCIAL 
                   MEANS.

       (a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations and under the authorities of the Mutual 
     Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the Secretary 
     of State shall establish and carry out a program in each 
     fiscal year to award grants of up to $5,000, to individuals 
     who meet the requirements of subsection (b), toward the cost 
     of up to one academic year of undergraduate study abroad. 
     Grants under this Act shall be known as the ``Benjamin A. 
     Gilman International Scholarships''.
       (b) Eligibility.--An individual referred to in subsection 
     (a) is an individual who--
       (1) is a student in good standing at an institution of 
     higher education in the United States (as defined in section 
     101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965);
       (2) has been accepted for up to one academic year of study 
     on a program of study abroad approved for credit by the 
     student's home institution;
       (3) is receiving any need-based student assistance under 
     title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
       (4) is a citizen or national of the United States.
       (c) Application and Selection.--
       (1) Grant application and selection shall be carried out 
     through accredited institutions of higher education in the 
     United States or a combination of such institutions under 
     such procedures as are established by the Secretary of State.
       (2) In considering applications for grants under this 
     section--
       (A) consideration of financial need shall include the 
     increased costs of study abroad; and
       (B) priority consideration shall be given to applicants who 
     are receiving Federal Pell Grants under title IV of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965.

     SEC. 304. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       The Secretary of State shall report annually to the 
     Congress concerning the grant program established under this 
     title. Each such report shall include the following 
     information for the preceding year:
       (1) The number of participants.
       (2) The institutions of higher education in the United 
     States that participants attended.
       (3) The institutions of higher education outside the United 
     States participants attended during their study abroad.
       (4) The areas of study of participants.

     SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each 
     fiscal year to carry out this title.

     SEC. 306. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This title shall take effect October 1, 2000.

                   TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 401. SUPPORT FOR OVERSEAS COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT ACT.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``Support for Overseas Cooperative Development Act''.
       (b) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) It is in the mutual economic interest of the United 
     States and peoples in developing and transitional countries 
     to promote cooperatives and credit unions.
       (2) Self-help institutions, including cooperatives and 
     credit unions, provide enhanced opportunities for people to 
     participate directly in democratic decision-making for their 
     economic and social benefit through ownership and control of 
     business enterprises and through the mobilization of local 
     capital and savings and such organizations should be fully 
     utilized in fostering free market principles and the adoption 
     of self-help approaches to development.
       (3) The United States seeks to encourage broad-based 
     economic and social development by creating and supporting--
       (A) agricultural cooperatives that provide a means to lift 
     low income farmers and rural people out of poverty and to 
     better integrate them into national economies;
       (B) credit union networks that serve people of limited 
     means through safe savings and by extending credit to 
     families and microenterprises;
       (C) electric and telephone cooperatives that provide rural 
     customers with power and telecommunications services 
     essential to economic development;
       (D) housing and community-based cooperatives that provide 
     low income shelter and work opportunities for the urban poor; 
     and
       (E) mutual and cooperative insurance companies that provide 
     risk protection for life and property to under-served 
     populations often through group policies.
       (c) General Provisions.--
       (1) Declarations of policy.--The Congress supports the 
     development and expansion of economic assistance programs 
     that fully utilize cooperatives and credit unions, 
     particularly those programs committed to--
       (A) international cooperative principles, democratic 
     governance and involvement of women and ethnic minorities for 
     economic and social development;
       (B) self-help mobilization of member savings and equity and 
     retention of profits in the community, except for those 
     programs that are dependent on donor financing;
       (C) market-oriented and value-added activities with the 
     potential to reach large numbers of low income people and 
     help them enter into the mainstream economy;
       (D) strengthening the participation of rural and urban poor 
     to contribute to their country's economic development; and
       (E) utilization of technical assistance and training to 
     better serve the member-owners.
       (2) Development priorities.--Section 111 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151i) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following: ``In meeting the requirement of the 
     preceding sentence, specific priority shall be given to the 
     following:
       ``(1) Agriculture.--Technical assistance to low income 
     farmers who form and develop member-owned cooperatives for 
     farm supplies, marketing and value-added processing.
       ``(2) Financial systems.--The promotion of national credit 
     union systems through credit union-to-credit union technical 
     assistance that strengthens the ability of low income people 
     and

[[Page H8892]]

     micro-entrepreneurs to save and to have access to credit for 
     their own economic advancement.
       ``(3) Infrastructure.--The support of rural electric and 
     telecommunication cooperatives for access for rural people 
     and villages that lack reliable electric and 
     telecommunications services.
       ``(4) Housing and community services.--The promotion of 
     community-based cooperatives which provide employment 
     opportunities and important services such as health clinics, 
     self-help shelter, environmental improvements, group-owned 
     businesses, and other activities.''.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development, in consultation with 
     the heads of other appropriate agencies, shall prepare and 
     submit to Congress a report on the implementation of section 
     111 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151i), 
     as amended by subsection (c).

     SEC. 402. FUNDING OF CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE 
                   ACTIVITIES OF USAID.

       (a) Allocation of Funds for Certain Environmental 
     Activities.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for 
     the fiscal year 2001 to carry out chapter 1 of part I of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.; 
     relating to development assistance), there is authorized to 
     be available at least $60,200,000 to carry out activities of 
     the type carried out by the Global Environment Center of the 
     United States Agency for International Development during 
     fiscal year 2000.
       (b) Allocation for Water and Coastal Resources.--Of the 
     amounts made available under subsection (a), at least 
     $2,500,000 shall be available for water and coastal resources 
     activities under the natural resources management function 
     specified in that subsection.

     SEC. 403. PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF 
                   HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE ABROAD BY THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

       (a) Priority for Disaster Relief Assistance.--In processing 
     applications for the transportation of humanitarian 
     assistance abroad under section 402 of title 10, United 
     States Code, the Administrator of the United States Agency 
     for International Development shall afford a priority to 
     applications for the transportation of disaster relief 
     assistance.
       (b) Modification of Applications.--The Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development shall take 
     all possible actions to assist applicants for the 
     transportation of humanitarian assistance abroad under such 
     section 402 in modifying or completing applications submitted 
     under such section in order to meet applicable requirements 
     under such section. The actions shall include efforts to 
     contact such applicants for purposes of the modification or 
     completion of such applications.

     SEC. 404. WORKING CAPITAL FUND.

       Section 635 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2395) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(m)(1) There is established a working capital fund (in 
     this subsection referred to as the `fund') for the United 
     States Agency for International Development (in this 
     subsection referred to as the `Agency') which shall be 
     available without fiscal year limitation for the expenses of 
     personal and nonpersonal services, equipment, and supplies 
     for--
       ``(A) International Cooperative Administrative Support 
     Services; and
       ``(B) rebates from the use of United States Government 
     credit cards.
       ``(2) The capital of the fund shall consist of--
       ``(A) the fair and reasonable value of such supplies, 
     equipment, and other assets pertaining to the functions of 
     the fund as the Administrator determines,
       ``(B) rebates from the use of United States Government 
     credit cards, and
       ``(C) any appropriations made available for the purpose of 
     providing capital,
     minus related liabilities.
       ``(3) The fund shall be reimbursed or credited with advance 
     payments for services, equipment, or supplies provided from 
     the fund from applicable appropriations and funds of the 
     Agency, other Federal agencies and other sources authorized 
     by section 607 at rates that will recover total expenses of 
     operation, including accrual of annual leave and 
     depreciation. Receipts from the disposal of, or payments for 
     the loss or damage to, property held in the fund, rebates, 
     reimbursements, refunds and other credits applicable to the 
     operation of the fund may be deposited in the fund.
       ``(4) At the close of each fiscal year the Administrator of 
     the Agency shall transfer out of the fund to the 
     miscellaneous receipts account of the Treasury of the United 
     States such amounts as the Administrator determines to be in 
     excess of the needs of the fund.
       ``(5) The fund may be charged with the current value of 
     supplies and equipment returned to the working capital of the 
     fund by a post, activity, or agency, and the proceeds shall 
     he credited to current applicable appropriations.''.

     SEC. 405. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND 
                   REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES MISSION TO 
                   THE UNITED NATIONS PROVIDED LIVING QUARTERS IN 
                   NEW YORK.

       Section 9(2) of the United Nations Participation Act of 
     1945 (22 U.S.C. 287e-1(2)) is amended by striking ``18'' and 
     inserting ``30''.

     SEC. 406. AVAILABILITY OF VOA AND RADIO MARTI MULTILINGUAL 
                   COMPUTER READABLE TEXT AND VOICE RECORDINGS.

       Section 1(b) of Public Law 104-269 (110 Stat. 3300) is 
     amended by striking ``5 years'' and inserting ``10 years''.

     SEC. 407. AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN MATERIALS OF THE VOICE OF 
                   AMERICA.

       (a) Authority.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to the provisions of this section, 
     the Broadcasting Board of Governors (in this section referred 
     to as the ``Board'') is authorized to make available to the 
     Institute for Media Development (in this section referred to 
     as the ``Institute''), at the request of the Institute, 
     previously broadcast audio and video materials produced by 
     the Africa Division of the Voice of America.
       (2) Deposit of materials.--Upon the request of the 
     Institute and the approval of the Board, materials made 
     available under paragraph (1) may be deposited with the 
     University of California, Los Angeles, or such other 
     appropriate institution of higher education (as defined in 
     section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1001(a)) that is approved by the Board for such purpose.
       (3) Supersedes existing law.--Materials made available 
     under paragraph (1) may be provided notwithstanding section 
     501 of the United States Information and Educational Exchange 
     Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461) and section 208 of the Foreign 
     Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 (22 
     U.S.C. 1461-1a).
       (b) Limitations.--
       (1) Authorized purposes.--Materials made available under 
     this section shall be used only for academic and research 
     purposes and may not be used for public or commercial 
     broadcast purposes.
       (2) Prior agreement required.--Before making available 
     materials under subsection (a)(1), the Board shall enter into 
     an agreement with the Institute providing for--
       (A) reimbursement of the Board for any expenses involved in 
     making such materials available;
       (B) the establishment of guidelines by the Institute for 
     the archiving and use of the materials to ensure that 
     copyrighted works contained in those materials will not be 
     used in a manner that would violate the copyright laws of the 
     United States (including international copyright conventions 
     to which the United States is a party);
       (C) the indemnification of the United States by the 
     Institute in the event that any use of the materials results 
     in violation of the copyright laws of the United States 
     (including international copyright conventions to which the 
     United States is a party);
       (D) the authority of the Board to terminate the agreement 
     if the provisions of paragraph (1) are violated; and
       (E) any other terms and conditions relating to the 
     materials that the Board considers appropriate.
       (c) Crediting of Reimbursements to Board Appropriations 
     Account.--Any reimbursement of the Board under subsection (b) 
     shall be deposited as an offsetting collection to the 
     currently applicable appropriation account of the Board.
       (d) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided under 
     this section shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 
     years after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 408. PAUL D. COVERDELL FELLOWS PROGRAM ACT OF 2000.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Paul 
     D. Coverdell Fellows Program Act of 2000''.
       (b) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Paul D. Coverdell was elected to the George State 
     Senate in 1970 and later became Minority Leader of the 
     Georgia State Senate, a post he held for 15 years.
       (2) Paul D. Coverdell served with distinction as the 11th 
     Director of the Peace Corps from 1989 to 1991, where he 
     promoted a fellowship program that was composed of returning 
     Peace Corps volunteers who agreed to work in underserved 
     American communities while they pursued educational degrees.
       (3) Paul D. Coverdell served in the United States Senate 
     from the State of Georgia from 1993 until his sudden death on 
     July 18, 2000.
       (4) Senator Paul D. Coverdell was beloved by his colleagues 
     for his civility, bipartisan efforts, and his dedication to 
     public service.
       (c) Designation of Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program.--
       (1) In general.--Effective on the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the program under section 18 of the Peace Corps Act (22 
     U.S.C. 2517) referred to before such date as the ``Peace 
     Corps Fellows/USA Program'' is redesignated as the ``Paul D. 
     Coverdell Fellows Program''.
       (2) References.--Any reference before the date of enactment 
     of this Act in any law, regulation, order, document, record, 
     or other paper of the United States to the Peace Corps 
     Fellows/USA Program shall, on and after such date, be 
     considered to refer to the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program.

  Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from New York?
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to object.
  (Mr. GEJDENSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I will not object. I just take the time 
to spend one moment to commend the chairman and the conferees on this 
important piece of legislation. It was not

[[Page H8893]]

long ago that the chairman and I and the First Lady, Hillary Rodham 
Clinton, joined together to continue this effort to make 
microenterprise a central element of our foreign assistance. I want to 
say that the chairman has done an outstanding job in continuing that 
effort.
  I yield to the gentleman from New York for any comments he might 
make.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I 
thank the gentleman from Connecticut who has been a cosponsor of this 
measure for being so supportive of this measure.
  I am pleased today to ask our colleagues to support H.R. 1143, the 
Microenterprise for Self-Reliance and International Anti-Corruption Act 
of 2000.
  Mr. Speaker, the House passed H.R. 1143, the Microenterprise of Self-
Reliance Act, in 1999 to increase support for the very important work 
of microenterprise institutions the world over who produce tangible 
results and change the lives of thousands of poor people in developing 
societies.
  This landmark bill not only honors the fine organizations and leaders 
who promote private enterprise and development efforts throughout the 
world in furtherance of our country's objective of helping those who 
help themselves, but also serves to place a higher priority on 
microenterprise programs as an essential component of our development 
assistance.
  This bill is designed to provide a framework for the delivery of seed 
capital to poor entrepreneurs who are the backbone of the informal 
economies in developing countries. By strengthening micro enterprises, 
more income is generated and jobs are created at the grassroots level. 
Hence, poor economies grow and the need for foreign development 
assistance declines.
  In Africa, more than 80 percent of employment is generated in the 
informal sector by the self-employed poor. However, many poor 
entrepreneurs are trapped in poverty because they cannot obtain credit 
at reasonable rates to build their asset base or expand their otherwise 
viable self-employment activities.
  The microenterprise community has clearly demonstrated that the poor 
are capable of expanding their incomes and their businesses 
dramatically when they can access micro-loans at reasonable rates. H.R. 
1143, authorizes programs that can reach these poor people who want to 
help themselves and thereby help to build their societies.
  To date, many fine organizations such as the Foundation for 
International Community Assistance, Action International, and 
Opportunities International have built fine records that illustrate 
that lending directly to the poor is a good investment and that poor 
people can do repay their loans and build successful businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, Microenterprise institutions not only reduce poverty, 
but they also reduce dependency and enhance self-worth. These are 
ultimately the objectives that we all wish to achieve in the developing 
world.
  I am pleased to highlight that microenterprise institutions are very 
successful in raising private funds in conjunction with those provided 
by our government. These efforts are commendable and should be 
replicated in other foreign assistance programs as well. It is 
precisely this approach of having the private and public sectors 
working together that will yield the results and genuine development 
that we all seek for the less fortunate of the globe.
  By providing access to micro credit to the world's poor, our country 
stimulates the entrepreneurial spirit and helps to develop and 
stimulate the informal economies of some of the world's poorest 
countries. This investment, rather than a hand out, makes good sense 
and makes a true difference in the lives of the less fortunate.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the microenterprise community, 
especially the Microenterprise Coalition, including FINCA, Action 
International, and Results for their constructive suggestions and 
assistance. I am also grateful for the assistance provided by the 
Administration and the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Reclaiming my time under my reservation, if I could 
just add, also, I would like to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Kolbe), the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the 
chairman, as well, for their work on the anti-corruption portions of 
this conference report. This is an important piece of legislation. 
America has lost as much as $26 billion to foreign bribes. We have now 
got our G-8 partners joining with us to fight corruption and bribery. 
This legislation will help build strong democracies globally.
  Over the past five years, U.S. firms overseas lost nearly $26 billion 
in business opportunities to foreign competitors offering bribes.
  Unethical business practices continue to jeopardize our ability to 
compete effectively in the international market.
  Bribery and other forms of corruption impede governments in their 
efforts to deliver basic services to their citizens; they undermine the 
confidence of people in democracy; and they are all too often linked 
with trans-border criminal activity, including drug-trafficking, 
organized crime, and money laundering.
  In 1999, the Vice President convened a Global Conference on Fighting 
Corruption where he declared corruption to be a direct threat to the 
rule of law and a matter of profound political and social consequence 
for our efforts to strengthen democratic governments.
  It is inarguably in the U.S. national interest to fight corruption 
and promote transparency and good governance.
  My bill will make anti-corruption measures a key principle of our 
foreign aid program.
  By helping these countries root out corruption, bribery and unethical 
business practices, we can also help create a level playing field for 
U.S. companies doing business abroad.
  When Congress passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 1977, the 
United States became the first industrialized country to criminalize 
corruption. It took us nearly two decades to get all the other 
industrialized nations to do the same. But American leadership and 
perseverance succeeded in getting countries which once offered tax 
write-offs for bribes to pass laws that criminalized bribery.
  This bill extends our leadership in fighting corruption to the 
developing countries.
  The International Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Act of 2000 
requires that foreign assistance be used to fight corruption at all 
levels of government and in the private sector in countries that have 
persistent problems with corruption, particularly where the United 
States has a significant economic interest.
  The bill would also require an annual report on U.S. efforts in 
fighting corruption in those countries which have the most persistent 
problems. My intent in requiring this report is to get from the 
Administration a comprehensive look at all U.S. efforts--diplomatic as 
well as through our foreign aid program--in those 15-20 countries where 
we have a significant economic interest or a substantial foreign aid 
program and where there is a persistent problem with corruption.
  This bill makes an important contribution to pro-actively preventing 
crises that would result from stifled economic growth, lack of foreign 
investment, and erosion of the public's trust in government.
  Among other things, the act establishes anti-corruption and good 
governance programs as priorities within our foreign assistance 
programs. The act underscores the importance of our efforts to combat 
corruption and promote good governance overseas.
  It will also allow administrations some flexibility in those 
relatively rare circumstances where developments on the ground, such as 
a coup or an economic crisis, would otherwise restrict it from acting 
through nongovernmental organizations.
  Thus, provisions of law that would otherwise restrict assistance to 
foreign countries are made inapplicable, with certain exceptions, to 
assistance provided in furtherance of this act. Assistance that would 
have been prohibited except for this authority cannot be provided 
directly to the government of such a country, but can be provided to 
the government through grants and contracts with nongovernmental 
organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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