Program for Greater Stability and Support (PROGRESS) for Eastern Europe Act of 1990

Summary

Program for Greater Stability and Support (PROGRESS) for Eastern Europe Act of 1990 - Sets forth policies on the provision of trade benefits and other assistance to eligible Eastern European countries, including prohibitions on assistance to Communist party organizations and Warsaw Pact defense and security forces. Defines an eligible Eastern European country as Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and any other Eastern European country (including Yugoslavia) that is taking steps toward: (1) political pluralism; (2) economic reform and a market economy; (3) respect for human rights; and (4) building a friendly relationship with the United States. Declares that the United States, in providing such assistance, should: (1) avoid equating the amount of funds used for assistance with success; (2) encourage and facilitate technical advice on establishing free market economies; and (3) encourage cultural and educational exchanges between U.S. and Eastern European nongovernmental organizations that are committed to democracy and free market economies. States that the President should consider property rights, business regulations, the informal sector, wage and price controls, taxation, trade policy, restrictions on investment and capital flows, the size of the state sector, and the banking sector, in determining whether such assistance should be provided. Declares that the United States should encourage U.S. companies to bid on contracts to improve Eastern Europe's infrastructure and assist companies in applying for such contracts. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include eligible Eastern European countries within the definition of a beneficiary country for purposes of permitting tax deductions for conventions held in such countries. Increases the tax exclusion for income earned in eligible Eastern European countries. Grants duty-free treatment of products of eligible Eastern European countries that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, in U.S. customs territory. Makes such treatment inapplicable to any country engaging in unfair trade practices against the United States. Amends the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 to make eligible Eastern European countries eligible for Export-Import Bank programs. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide that Overseas Private Investment Corporation programs shall not be prohibited in eligible Eastern European countries. Amends the SEED Act of 1989 to redesignate the SEED Information Center System as the Eastern European Business Information Center System, a central clearinghouse and data resource service for U.S. and Eastern European businesses. Requires information to be made available to local enterprises in Eastern Europe seeking trade or investment with the United States through trade information centers. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth a matching requirement for U.S. businesses receiving such funding. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to U.S. financial institutions to assist them in capitalizing branches in eligible Eastern European countries. Limits the amount of such assistance and sets forth a matching requirement. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director of the U.S. Information Agency to establish a Program for East European Political Education. Provides that such Program shall provide training and experience for young Eastern European leaders with the Congress, in U.S. political campaigns, and with U.S. media and businesses, by awarding Congressional Gift of Democracy Fellowships. Sets forth a matching requirement for nongovernmental organizations chosen to award such fellowships. Limits fellowships to a four-month period. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to develop a management training program for business people and government officials from eligible Eastern European countries. Makes Small Business Development Center Program and Senior Corps of Retired Executives funds available to carry out this program.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

No timeline events have been ingested for this record yet.

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 19 April 1990

  Open at official source

Sponsors

No sponsors or actors listed by the source.

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.