Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1998

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Export and Investment Assistance Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance Title III: Military Assistance Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance Title V: General Provisions Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1998 - Title I: Export and Investment Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1998 for: (1) direct loans, loan guarantees, tied-aid grants, insurance, and administrative expenses under Export-Import Bank programs; (2) Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) direct and guaranteed loans and administrative expenses; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1998 for: (1) expenses of the President in carrying out certain programs under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (2) the Agency for International Development (AID) for specified development assistance; (3) population planning assistance; (4) specified projects aimed at reunification of Cyprus; (5) democracy and humanitarian activities in Burma; (6) political reform and election activities in Cambodia; (7) the Guatemala Clarification Commission; (8) international disaster assistance; (9) debt restructuring; (10) micro and small enterprise development programs; (11) the urban and environmental credit program account; (12) private and voluntary organizations that receive 20 percent or more of their funding from non-Federal sources; (13) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (14) operating expenses of AID and the AID Office of Inspector General; (15) Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance (earmarking amounts for Israel and Jordan); (16) economic assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States; (17) assistance for the independent states of the former Soviet Union, including funds for U.S. contribution to the Trans-Caucasus Enterprise Fund (but no funds to Russia unless the President certifies to the Committees on Appropriations that it has terminated arrangements to provide Iran with technology to develop a nuclear program); (18) the Peace Corps (but no funds for abortions); (19) international narcotics control (earmarking amounts for Law Enforcement Training and Demand Reduction); (20) migration and refugee assistance (earmarking amounts for refugees from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and other refugees resettling in Israel); (21) the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; and (22) nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining and related programs and activities. Bars the use of development assistance funds for: (1) coercive abortions or involuntary sterilizations; and (2) U.S. private and voluntary organizations which obtain less than 20 percent of annual funding from sources other than the U.S. Government. Prohibits the availability of funds for economic revitalization programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina if the President certifies to a specified congressional committee that they have not complied with certain conditions under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia). Title III: Military Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) international military education and training assistance (but none to Guatemala); (2) foreign military financing and direct loans (earmarking amounts for Israel, Jordan, Greece, Turkey, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania); and (3) international peacekeeping operations (subject to obligation only through the notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations). Prohibits foreign military financing for Sudan, Liberia, and Guatemala. Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1998 for the U.S. contribution to the: (1) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank); (2) International Development Association; (3) Inter-American Development Bank; (4) Enterprise for the Americas Multilateral Investment Fund; (5) Asian Development Bank; (6) Asian Development Fund; (7) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; (8) North American Development Bank; and (9) International Monetary Fund. Makes appropriations for FY 1998 for international programs and organizations. Sets certain restrictions on international organization funding, including prohibiting the use of funds made available to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for activities in China. Prohibits the use of funds for the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Title V: General Provisions - Specifies uses and limits on the use of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 501) Amends the Support for East European Democracy Act to revise limitations on the compensation of Enterprise Fund board members, officers, and employees to prohibit any payments: (1) to board members other than for services as board members; or (2) to any firm, association, or entity in which a board member serves as partner, director, officer, or employee. (Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds for: (1) bilateral funding of international financial institutions; (2) the export of nuclear equipment, fuel, or technology (except for nuclear safety purposes); (3) direct assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, or Syria; (4) assistance to any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree; (5) certain transfers between appropriations accounts without presidential consultation with Congress; (6) assistance to any country in default in excess of a year on payments on a U.S. loan (except for Nicaragua and narcotics-related assistance for Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru); and (7) assistance for certain commodities likely to be in surplus on world markets if it will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 514) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to oppose any assistance for the production or extraction of any commodity or mineral for export if it is in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 516) Prohibits the availability of international organization funds for Libya, Iran, or certain Communist countries. (Sec. 517) Declares it is U.S. policy that appropriations for ESF funds allocated to Israel shall not be less than the annual debt repayment from Israel to the United States. (Sec. 518) Prohibits the use of development assistance funds for abortions or involuntary sterilizations as methods of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions, or provide any financial incentive to undergo sterilization. (Sec. 519) Declares that nongovernmental and multilateral organizations shall not be subjected to requirements more restrictive than requirements for foreign governments in determining eligibility for population planning assistance. (Sec. 520) Requires the President to report to the Committees on Appropriations on annual arms sales proposals covering major weapons under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 521) Prohibits the use of funds for Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala (except for development assistance), Haiti, Liberia, Pakistan, Peru, Serbia, Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of Congo except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 523) Makes funds available to AID for family planning, health, child survival, and basic education and AIDS research and control in developing countries. (Sec. 524) Bars funding for indirect assistance to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or China unless the President certifies that the withholding of such funds is contrary to U.S. national security interests. (Sec. 525) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to extend the President's waiver authority with respect to reciprocal leasing through FY 1998. (Sec. 526) Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to notify the Committees on Appropriations before providing excess DOD articles to certain NATO and major non-NATO countries. (Sec. 528) Prohibits bilateral assistance funds to any country which the President determines grants sanctuary from prosecution to any individual or group which has committed an act of international terrorism or otherwise supports such activities. Authorizes a waiver by the President for national security and humanitarian reasons, requiring notification to the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 529) Authorizes the commercial leasing of defense articles (instead of government-to-government sale) to Israel, Egypt, NATO, and major non-NATO allies if the President determines that there are compelling foreign policy or national security reasons. (Sec. 530) Requires all AID contracts and subcontracts to include a clause requiring that U.S. insurance companies have a fair opportunity to bid when insurance is necessary or appropriate. (Sec. 531) Prohibits U.S. sale of Stinger missiles in the Persian Gulf region, with certain exceptions. (Sec. 532) Authorizes nongovernmental organizations which are AID grantees or contractors to place funds made available to them under this Act in interest bearing accounts in order to enhance their participation in economic activities under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including endowments and debt-for-development and debt-for-nature exchanges. (Sec. 535) Bars assistance to any country that is not in compliance with the United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iraq, unless the President certifies to the Congress that such assistance: (1) is in the national interest; (2) will directly benefit the needy people in that country; or (3) will be humanitarian assistance for foreign nationals who have fled Iraq and Kuwait. (Sec. 537) Declares that provisions under this or any other Act authorizing appropriations for foreign operations or export financing shall not be construed to prohibit activities authorized by the Peace Corps Act. (Sec. 538) Prohibits the use of funds to provide: (1) any financial incentive to induce a business to relocate outside the United States if it will reduce the number of employees in the United States; (2) assistance for establishing or developing in a foreign country an export processing zone or other designated area in which a country's tax, tariff, labor, environment, and safety laws do not apply to activities in the area, unless the President certifies that such assistance is not likely to cause a loss of U.S. jobs; or (3) assistance for any project that contributes to the violation of internationally recognized workers rights in the recipient country. (Sec. 539) Declares that no sanction, prohibition, or restriction against Serbia or Montenegro shall cease to be effective, unless: (1) the President certifies to the Congress there is substantial progress toward self-determination in Kosova and substantial improvement in the human rights situation there; and (2) certain requirements are met. (Sec. 540) Declares that funds appropriated under this Act for Afghanistan, Lebanon, and for victims of war, displaced children, displaced Burmese, humanitarian assistance for Romania, and humanitarian assistance for the peoples of Kosova, may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law. Authorizes the use of foreign assistance funds to support: (1) tropical forestry and energy programs aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; and (2) biodiversity conservation activities. Authorizes AID to employ personal services contractors to administer programs for the West Bank and Gaza. (Sec. 541) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to: (1) immediate public renunciation by Arab League countries of the boycott of Israel and American firms having commercial ties with Israel; and (2) steps the President should take to encourage such renunciation. (Sec. 542) Authorizes the use of ESF funds to strengthen the administration of justice in countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and in other regions. Allows such use of ESF funds (including for anti-narcotics activities) for Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. (Sec. 543) Declares that restrictions on assistance to foreign countries contained in this Act or any other Act (except those relating to international terrorism or human rights violations) shall not be construed to restrict assistance: (1) in support of certain programs of nongovernmental organizations; or (2) under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. (Sec. 547) Prohibits the use of funds to pay any assessments, arrearages, or dues of any UN member. (Sec. 550) Prohibits the provision of funds to any foreign government that provides lethal military equipment to a country determined to have a terrorist government, unless it is in the U.S. national interest. (Sec. 552) Prohibits the obligation of any appropriations for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the West Bank and Gaza unless the President has exercised certain authorities to suspend prohibitions on assistance to the PLO. (Sec. 554) Permits the President to provide a specified amount of commodities and services to the UN War Crimes Tribunal if doing so will contribute to a resolution of charges regarding genocide or other violations of international law in the former Yugoslavia. (Sec. 555) Authorizes disposal on a grant basis in foreign countries of demining equipment used in support of the clearing of land mines and unexploded for humanitarian purposes. (Sec. 556) Prohibits the obligation of appropriations to create in Jerusalem a new U.S. agency office for the purpose of conducting U.S. business with the Palestinian Authority over Gaza and Jericho (or any successor Palestinian governing entity) provided for in the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles. (Sec. 558) Declares that, to the greatest extent practicable, assistance provided or used for purchases should use American equipment, services, commodities, and products. (Sec. 559) Authorizes the President to reduce amounts owed to the United States by eligible countries as a result of: (1) housing guarantees made under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; or (2) credits extended or guarantees issued under the Arms Export Control Act. Permits exercise of such authority only: (1) to implement multilateral official debt relief and referendum agreements known as the Paris Club Agreed Minutes; and (2) with respect to countries with heavy debt burdens that are eligible to borrow from the International Development Association (but not from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) (IDA-only countries). Prescribes additional conditions for the exercise of such authority. (Sec. 560) Authorizes the President to engage in certain debt buybacks or sales. Authorizes sale, reduction, or cancellation of certain loans to foreign governments, upon receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser that plans to use such loans only for the purposes of engaging in debt-for-equity swaps, debt-for-development swaps, or debt-for-nature swaps. Limits such authority to funds appropriated by this Act under the heading of debt restructuring. (Sec. 561) Allows specified funds to be made available for assistance for Liberia. (Sec. 562) Requires the President to certify to the Congress that the Guatemalan military is cooperating with efforts to implement a peace settlement and resolve human rights abuses which elements of the Guatemalan military forces are alleged to have committed, ordered, or attempted to thwart the investigation of, as a condition for: (1) availability of any funds provided in this Act for the Guatemalan military forces; and (2) the lifting of restrictions on Guatemala under the headings International Military Education and Training and Foreign Military Financing Program. Exempts from such condition any funds made available to implement a cease-fire or peace agreement. (Sec. 563) Provides for bilateral and multilateral assistance sanctions against countries harboring war criminals indicted with respect to Rwanda. (Sec. 564) Prohibits provision to the Government of Haiti of any funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act (except humanitarian, development, or electoral assistance) until the President reports to Congress that such Government is: (1) conducting thorough investigations of extrajudicial and political killings; and (2) cooperating with U.S. authorities in such investigations. Provides for a U.S. national interest waiver of this requirement. (Sec. 565) Requires a specified annual report of the Secretary of State containing the voting record of each foreign member country of the UN to include a side-by-side comparison of each country's overall support for the United States at the UN and the amount of U.S. assistance provided to it in FY 1996. (Sec. 566) Requires the Secretary of Labor to report to the Committees on Appropriations on labor practices in Burma. (Sec. 567) Makes the Government of Haiti eligible to purchase U.S. defense articles and services for the civilian-led Haitian National Police and Coast Guard. (Sec. 568) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the World Bank and the International Development Association to encourage such institutions to: (1) provide public information on procurement opportunities available to U.S. suppliers, especially small businesses; and (2) consult with local communities as part of the normal lending process on the potential impact of loans, and expand participation of affected peoples and nongovernmental organizations in decisions on the selection, design and implementation of policies and projects. (Sec. 569) Prohibits the use of funds to the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State believes they have committed gross violations of human rights, unless the Secretary reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such country is taking steps to bring the responsible persons to justice. (Sec. 570) Provides for economic sanctions against the Government of Cambodia unless it takes steps to: (1) end political violence; (2) establish an independent election commission; (3) protect the rights of voters and candidates by establishing electoral laws and procedures guaranteeing freedom of speech and assembly; and (4) eliminate official corruption and collaboration with narcotics smugglers. (Sec. 571) Requires that any agreement between the United States and the Government of Indonesia for the sale of lethal weapons shall state that such items will not be used in East Timor. (Sec. 573) Provides for bilateral and multilateral assistance sanctions against countries harboring war criminals indicted with respect to the former Yugoslavia. (Sec. 574) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 to extend through FY 1998 the authorization for admission into the United States of a specified number of refugees from the independent states of the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania based on religious persecution owing to participation in the Ukrainian Catholic or Orthodox churches. Makes September 30, 1998, the latest allowable entry date for specified aliens from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia for purposes of qualifying for adjustment of status.

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4 official files

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 17 July 1997

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• Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 24 June 1997

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• Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 24 June 1997

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 24 June 1997

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