[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4531-S4532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Leahy, Ms. 
        Mikulski, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. 
        Bingaman):
  S. 742. A bill to authorize assistance for individuals with 
disabilities in foreign countries, including victims of warfare and 
civil strife, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 742

       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 ``International Disability and 
     Victims of Warfare and Civil Strife Assistance Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following finding:
       (1)(A) According to the International Committee of the Red 
     Cross, there are tens of millions of landmines in over 60 
     countries around the world, and it has estimated that as many 
     as 24,000 people are maimed or killed each year by landmines, 
     mostly civilians, resulting in amputations and disabilities 
     of various kinds.
       (B) While the United States Government invests more than 
     $100,000,000 in mine action programs annually, including 
     funding for mine awareness and demining training programs, 
     only about ten percent of these funds go to directly aid 
     landmine victims.
       (C) The Patrick Leahy War Victims Fund, administered by the 
     United States Agency for International Development, has 
     provided essential prosthetics and rehabilitation for 
     landmine and other war victims in developing countries who 
     are disabled and has provided long-term sustainable 
     improvements in quality of life for victims of civil strife 
     and warfare, addressing such issues as barrier-free 
     accessibility, reduction of social stigmatization, and 
     increasing economic opportunities.
       (D) Enhanced coordination is needed among Federal agencies 
     that carry out assistance programs in foreign countries for 
     victims of landmines and other victims of civil strife and 
     warfare to make better use of interagency expertise and 
     resources.
       (2) According to a review of Poverty and Disability 
     commissioned by the World Bank, ``disabled people have lower 
     education and income levels than the rest of the population. 
     They are more likely to have incomes below poverty level than 
     the non-disabled population, and they are less likely to have 
     savings and other assets . . . [t]he links between poverty 
     and disability go two ways--not only does disability add to 
     the risk of poverty, but conditions of poverty add to the 
     risk of disability.''.
       (3) Numerous international human rights conventions and 
     declarations recognize the need to protect the rights of 
     individuals regardless of their status, including those 
     individuals with disabilities, through the principles of 
     equality and non-discrimination.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize 
     assistance for individuals with disabilities, including 
     victims of landmines and other victims of civil strife and 
     warfare.

     SEC. 3. INTERNATIONAL DISABILITIES AND WAR VICTIMS 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) 
     is amended by inserting after section 134 the following:

     SEC. 135. INTERNATIONAL DISABILITIES AND WAR VICTIMS 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       ``(a) Authorization.--the President is authorized to 
     furnish assistance to individuals with disabilities, 
     including victims of civil strife and warfare, in foreign 
     countries.l
       ``(b) Activities.--The programs established pursuant to 
     subsection (a) may includes programs, projects, and 
     activities such as the following:
       ``(1) Development of local capacity to provide medical and 
     rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, 
     including victims of civil strife and warfare, in foreign 
     countries, such as--
       ``(A) support for and training of medical professionals, 
     including surgeons, nurses, and physical therapists, to 
     provide effective emergency and other medical care and for 
     the development of training manuals relating to first aid and 
     other medical treatment;
       ``(B) support for sustainable prosthetic and orthotic 
     services; and
       ``(C) psychological and social rehabilitation of such 
     individuals, together with their families as appropriate, for 
     the reintegration of such individuals into local communities.
       ``(2) Support for policy reform and educational efforts 
     related to the needs and abilities of individuals with 
     disabilities, including victims of civil strife and warfare.
       ``(3) Coordination of programs established pursuant to 
     subsection (a) with existing programs for individuals with 
     disabilities, including victims of civil strife and warfare, 
     in foreign countries.
       ``(4) Support for establishment of appropriate entities in 
     foreign countries to coordinate programs, projects, and 
     activities related to assistance for individuals with 
     disabilities, including victims of civil strife and warfare.
       ``(5) Support for primary, secondary, and vocational 
     education, public awareness and training programs and other 
     activities that help prevent war-related injuries and assist 
     individuals with disabilities, including victims of civil 
     strife and warfare, with their reintegration into society and 
     their ability to make sustained social and economic 
     contributions to society.
       ``(c) Priority.--To the maximum extent feasible, assistance 
     under this section shall be provided through nongovernmental 
     organizations, and, as appropriate, through governments to 
     establish appropriate norms, standards, and policies related 
     to rehabilitation and issues affecting individuals with 
     disabilities, including victims of civil strife and warfare.
       ``(d) 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 are authorized to be made available to 
     carry out this section and are authorized to be provided 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law.''.

     SEC. 4. RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND ASSISTANCE RELATED TO 
                   INTERNATIONAL DISABILITIES AND LANDMINE AND 
                   OTHER WAR VICTIMS.

       (a) Authorization.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, is authorized--
       (A) to conduct programs in foreign countries related to 
     individuals with disabilities, including victims of landmines 
     and other victims of civil strife and warfare;
       (B) to provide grants to nongovernmental organizations for 
     the purpose of carrying out research, prevention, public 
     awareness and assistance programs in foreign countries 
     related to individuals with disabilities, including victims 
     of landmines and other victims of civil strife and warfare.
       (2) Approval of secretary of state.--Activities under 
     programs established pursuant to paragraph (1) may be carried 
     out in foreign countries only in coordination with the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development, and upon approval for such activities in such 
     countries by the Secretary of State.
       (b) Activities.--Programs established pursuant to 
     subsection (a) may include the following activities:
       (1) Research on trauma, physical, psychological, and social 
     rehabilitation, and continuing medical care related to 
     individuals with disabilities, including victims of landmines 
     and other victims of civil strife and warfare, including--
       (A) conducting research on psychological and social factors 
     that lead to successful recovery;
       (B) developing, testing, and evaluating model interventions 
     that reduce post-traumatic stress and promote health and 
     well-being;
       (C) developing basic instruction tools for initial medical 
     response to traumatic injuries; and
       (D) developing basic instruction manuals for patients and 
     healthcare providers, including for emergency and follow-up 
     care, proper

[[Page S4532]]

     amputation procedures, and reconstructive surgery.
       (2) Facilitation of peer support networks for individuals 
     with disabilities, including victims of landmines and other 
     victims of civil strife and warfare, in foreign countries, 
     including--
       (A) establishment of organizations at the local level, 
     administered by such individuals, to assess and address the 
     physical, psychological, economic and social rehabilitation 
     and other needs of such individuals, together with their 
     families as appropriate, for the purpose of economic and 
     social reintegration into local communities; and
       (B) training related to the implementation of such peer 
     support networks, including training of outreach workers to 
     assist in the establishment of organizations such as those 
     described in subparagraph (A) and assistance to facilitate 
     the use of the networks by such individuals.
       (3) Sharing of expertise from limb-loss and disability 
     research centers in the United States with similar centers 
     and facilities in war-affected countries, including promoting 
     increased health for individuals with limb loss and limb 
     deficiency and epidemiological research on secondary medical 
     conditions related to limb loss and limb deficiency.
       (4) Developing a database of best practices to address the 
     needs of the war-related disabled through comprehensive 
     examination of support activities related to such disability 
     and access to medical care and supplies.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services to carry out this section such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2004.

     SEC. 5. EXPERTISE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized--
       (1) to provide advice and expertise on prosthetics, 
     orthotics, physical and psychological rehabilitation and 
     treatment, and disability assistance to other Federal 
     departments and agencies, including providing for temporary 
     assignment on a non-reimbursable basis of appropriate 
     Department of Veterans Affairs personnel, with respect to the 
     implementation of programs to provide assistance to victims 
     of landmines and other victims of civil strife and warfare in 
     foreign countries and landmine research and health-related 
     programs, including programs established pursuant to section 
     135 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as added by 
     section 3 of this Act) and programs established pursuant to 
     section 4 of this Act; and
       (2) to provide technical assistance to private voluntary 
     organizations on a reimbursable basis with respect to the 
     planning, development, operation, and evaluation of such 
     landmine assistance, research, and prevention programs.

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