International Development Cooperation Act of 1979

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

29 March 1979

Last action

14 August 1979 · President

Status

Public Law 96-53.

Summary

International Development Cooperation Act of 1979 - Title I: Development Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 1981 for: (1) agriculture, rural development, and nutrition; (2) population planning and health; (3) education and human resources development; (4) technical assistance for energy, research, reconstruction, and selected development problems; (5) human rights studies and activities; (6) Sahel development program; (7) American schools and hospitals abroad; (8) international organizations and programs; (9) international disaster assistance; (10) assistance to African refugees; (11) reimbursable development programs; and (12) operating expenses. Includes energy development and productions as part of the United States development assistance policy. Authorizes the President to furnish such assistance with a specified amount to encourage exploration for potential oil, natural gas, and coal reserves in developing countries. Authorizes the President to include in the cooperative energy programs with developing countries: (1) research and development of small-scale, decentralized renewable energy sources for rural areas; (2) research and development of suitable energy technology; (3) analysis of energy needs and resources; (4) training; and (5) scientific interchanges. Sets limits on the aggregate amount of interest that may be waived or amounts that may be paid into local currency accounts of the relatively least developed countries. Requires agencies planning development assistance programs for countries in which there is illicit narcotics cultivation to give priority consideration to programs which would reduce such cultivation by stimulating broader development opportunities. Increases the amount of housing guaranties that may be outstanding at any one time. Extends the housing guaranty program and the agricultural credit and self-help community development program through September 30, 1982. Authorizes pilot programs in six Latin American countries for agricultural credit and community development projects. Increases the total amount of guaranties which may be outstanding at one time. Repeals the minimum interest rate with regard to such housing guaranties. Repeals the requirement that housing guaranties be for specific types of projects. Revises the procedure for the computation of benefits and costs of water or land resource construction projects. Permits the use of private voluntary agencies in carrying out certain assistance projects if such agencies are registered with the Agency for International Development. Repeals: (1) the South African educational assistance program; (2) the requirement of a Presidential report to Congress concerning major environment and natural resource problems; and (3) the exclusion of assistance to countries seizing or penalizing U.S. fishing vessels in international waters. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 1981 for the Inter-American Foundation. Requires the President to study and report to Congress concerning the prospects for permanent resettlement of Indochinese refugees. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should provide significantly increased resources for development programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prohibits any development assistance to Afghanistan, unless the President reports to Congress that such assistance is in the U.S. national interest. Title II: Food for Peace - Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to require the President to take precautions that emergency commodity distributions do not interfere with local food production or marketing in the recipient country. Provides for the use of indigenous institutions and workers to assure that food commodities are used effectively and are targeted to the areas of greatest need. Permits the dollar value of commodities to be applied by the recipient country against their repayment obligation under the Food for Development Program. Repeals the requirement that eligible countries' utilization proposal contain a plan for the intended uses of commodities on an annual basis. Requires participant countries to include a detailed description of how commodities were used in their annual report to the President. Provides for the forgiveness of the repayment obligation required under the Food for Development Programs. Title III: Economic Support Fund - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 1981 for the Economic Support Fund. Repeals the minimum authorized appropriation for Jordan. Permits funds to be made available to Syria and Jordan only if the President certifies to Congress that such countries are acting in good faith to achieve peace in the Middle East. Sets conditions on the use of funds for the Maqarin Dam and Jordan Valley Irrigation System. Increases the amounts authorized for the countries of southern Africa and for a southern Africa regional refugee program. Continues the authorization for refugee relief and reconstruction on Cyprus if the President certifies to Congress that such support will promote a settlement of the Cyprus dispute. Earmarks a portion of the unobligated funds in the Middle East Special Requirements Fund for Lebanon. Title IV: Institute for Scientific and Technological Cooperation - Authorizes the President to establish an Institute for Scientific and Technological Cooperation to: (1) assist developing countries to strengthen their technological capacity; (2) foster the exchange of scientists and other technical experts with developing countries; and (3) advise other Federal agencies and U.S. businesses as to scientific and technological cooperation with developing countries. Authorizes the President to establish a Council on International Scientific and Technological Cooperation to advise the Institute. Requires the Institute Director to seek the Council's advice regarding any significant change in Institute activities and any new programs or initiatives. Authorizes the President to award Institute fellowships to citizens and foreigners in the fields of scientific, technological, economic or social endeavor. Directs Council members and Institute Fellows to avoid any action creating a conflict of interest. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1981 to carry out the provisions of this title. Requires the President to submit annual reports to Congress on the Institute's operations, including: (1) a discussion of the impact of the Institute's programs; and (2) the percentage of funds used to further the development assistance policies. Stipulates that the Institute shall be established in an International Development Cooperation Agency, if such agency is established. Title V: Peace Corps - Stipulates that the Peace Corps shall be established within the International Development Cooperation Agency, if such agency is established; if not, the Peace Corps shall be established as an independent agency. Provides for a board of directors who shall have the authority to exercise all the Peace Corps functions formerly exercised by the Director of ACTION. Provides for the transfer of personnel and funds. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1981 for the Peace Corps.

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

Timeline

29 March 1979
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Source: IntroReferral
29 March 1979
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
29 March 1979
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
31 March 1979
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, H. Rept. 96-79.
Source: Committee
31 March 1979
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, H. Rept. 96-79.
Source: Committee
4 April 1979
Floor
Measure called up by special rule in House.
Source: Floor
5 April 1979
Floor
Measure considered in House.
Source: Floor
9 April 1979
Floor
Measure considered in House.
Source: Floor
10 April 1979
Floor
Measure considered in House.
Source: Floor
10 April 1979
Vote
Measure passed House, amended, roll call #91 (200-173).
Source: Floor
10 April 1979
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, roll call #91 (200-173).
Source: Floor
23 April 1979
Introduced
Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Source: IntroReferral
15 May 1979
Reported
Reported to Senate from the Committee on Foreign Relations (without written report).
Source: Committee
15 May 1979
Reported
Reported to Senate from the Committee on Foreign Relations (without written report).
Source: Committee
19 June 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference scheduled in Senate.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
19 June 1979
Floor
Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
Source: Floor
19 June 1979
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 588, roll call #137 (70-25).
Source: Floor
21 June 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference scheduled in House.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
27 July 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-397.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
27 July 1979
ResolvingDifferences
Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-397.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
31 July 1979
Passed
Senate agreed to conference report.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
31 July 1979
Passed
Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
2 August 1979
Vote
House agreed to conference report, roll call #430 (223-181).
Source: ResolvingDifferences
2 August 1979
Vote
Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #430 (223-181).
Source: ResolvingDifferences
3 August 1979
President
Measure presented to President.
Source: President
3 August 1979
President
Measure enrolled in House.
Source: President
3 August 1979
Floor
Measure presented to President.
Source: Floor
3 August 1979
President
Measure enrolled in Senate.
Source: President
14 August 1979
President
Public Law 96-53.
Source: President
14 August 1979
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
14 August 1979
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

· Official source

Yes 0 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0

Versions

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

Documents

5 official files

Public Law (PDF)

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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 15 August 1979
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Conference report filed in House
summary · EN · 27 July 1979
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 19 June 1979
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 10 April 1979
Open at official source
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 29 March 1979
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Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/house-bill/3324
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/96/hr/3324
us · 96-hr-3324 · source updated 14 January 2025