Economic Assistance Reform Act of 1991

Summary

Economic Assistance Reform Act of 1991 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985 to repeal provisions relating to the earmarking of foreign assistance program funds. Authorizes the President to furnish assistance for infrastructure development. Specifies that such assistance shall include: (1) development of energy resources; (2) programs of reconstruction following natural or manmade disasters and programs of disaster preparedness; and (3) programs designed to help solve special development problems in the poorest countries and to make possible proper utilization of infrastructure and related projects funded with earlier U.S. assistance. Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to: (1) schools and libraries outside the United States serving as study and demonstration centers for ideas and practices of the United States; and (2) hospital centers for medical education and research outside the United States, founded or sponsored by U.S. citizens. Authorizes appropriations for foreign economic assistance by regions of the world. Specifies such regions as: (1) Africa; (2) Asia; (3) Central America; (4) Europe; (5) Latin America and the Caribbean; and (6) the Near East. Requires the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to administer the programs, projects, and activities for which such funds are appropriated. Requires that on or after October 1, 1991, authorizations of appropriations shall be made with reference to such regions. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should continue to make efforts to improve the management of the foreign assistance program, including efforts to: (1) streamline the project development process; (2) increase decentralization of field missions; (3) reduce the number and increase the duration and sustainability of projects which are funded; (4) decrease recurring costs; (5) prepare a more detailed analysis of the impact of AID projects for inclusion in the annual congressional presentation materials; (6) expand overseas tours for personnel and streamline mid-level management; (7) streamline the contract process; and (8) coordinate the U.S. economic assistance effort. Requires the Administrator of AID to report to the Congress concerning proposals to improve the management of the foreign assistance program. Requires the President to conduct a study on the feasibility and impact of reducing the number of countries receiving economic assistance and the feasibility of incorporating the AID into the Department of State. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the foreign assistance program should be funded on a two-year cycle; (2) the President should begin preparing a foreign assistance budget for FY 1994 and 1995; (3) funds appropriated for foreign assistance should remain available for expenditure without fiscal year limitations; and (4) the appropriations and authorization committees of each House of the Congress should hold joint hearings on the foreign assistance program and should coordinate their duties with the Committee on the Budget of each House of the Congress. Increases from ten to 25 percent the percentage of funds that may be transferred between foreign assistance accounts. Removes a limitation on the amount by which an account may be increased through the receipt of transferred funds. Revises the restrictions on economic aid to debtor countries to allow such aid for a period of three years after a default of one calendar year if the President certifies that the likelihood of repayment by such country would be increased by such waiver.

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 Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 6 February 1991

  Open at official source

Sponsors

No sponsors or actors listed by the source.

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.