Sets forth requirements with respect to the provision to East Timor of bilateral assistance, multilateral assistance, Peace Corps assistance, certain trade and investment assistance, scholarships for East Timorese students, and security assistance.
[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5253 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5253
To provide assistance to East Timor to facilitate the transition of
East Timor to an independent nation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 21, 2000
Mr. Gejdenson (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mrs. Lowey, Ms. Pelosi, Mr.
Ackerman, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Evans, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Kucinich, Mr.
Berman, Mr. Capuano, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Hall of Ohio, Mr. Smith of New
Jersey, Mr. Weygand, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr.
Frank of Massachusetts, and Mr. Hoeffel) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in
addition to the Committees on Banking and Financial Services, and Ways
and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide assistance to East Timor to facilitate the transition of
East Timor to an independent nation, and for other purposes.
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 ``East Timor Transition to
Independence Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On August 30, 1999, the East Timorese people voted
overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Indonesia in
elections organized by the United Nations Assistance Mission in
East Timor (UNAMET). Pro-integration militias, with the support
of the Indonesian military, attempted to prevent then
retaliated against this vote by launching a campaign of terror
and violence. As a result, over 500,000 people, or
approximately \2/3\ of the population, were displaced. Hundreds
were murdered, and many were raped.
(2) The violent campaign devastated East Timor's
infrastructure, including its schools, water and power
supplies, and transportation and communications systems. The
militias destroyed or severely damaged 60 to 80 percent of
public and private property across East Timor. Virtually all
vestiges of government, public services (including sanitation),
and public security in East Timor also collapsed.
(3) The International Force for East Timor (INTERFET)
entered East Timor in September 1999 and successfully restored
order. INTERFET was organized and led by Australia, with the
active participation of the Philippines, South Korea, New
Zealand, and Thailand.
(4) On October 25, 1999, the United Nations Security
Council established a new mandate for its operations in East
Timor. The United Nations Transitional Administration for East
Timor (UNTAET), which replaced UNAMET, was directed to provide
overall administration of East Timor, guide the people of East
Timor in the establishment of a new democratic government, and
maintain security and order.
(5) The leadership of UNTAET and the East Timorese
leadership currently anticipate that East Timor will become an
independent nation in mid- to late-2001.
(6) East Timor is one of the poorest places in Asia. A
large percentage of the population live below the poverty line,
only 20 percent of East Timor's population is literate, most of
East Timor's people remain unemployed, the annual per capita
Gross National Product is $340, and life expectancy is only 56
years.
(7) The World Bank and the United Nations have estimated
that it will require $300,000,000 in development assistance
over the next three years in order to meet East Timor's basic
development needs. Donor countries, including the United
States, have pledged a total of $173,000,000 to the Trust Fund
established by the World Bank to manage the distribution of
donor funds in East Timor, and $37,000,000 to the Trust Fund of
UNTAET.
(8) The United States has been a leading contributor to the
development of East Timor since 1994. As a result of the United
States Agency for International Development's funding a
successful coffee cooperative project, small farmers have been
able to enter the cash economy and to increase the amount of
money earned from the coffee they grow.
(9) The Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related
Programs Appropriations Act, 2000, provided $25,000,000 for
East Timor. Utilizing these funds, the United States Agency for
International Development has helped to restart the coffee
cooperative project after it ceased to operate during the
militia rampage, funded job creation programs for East
Timorese, contributed to UNTAET and to the World Bank Trust
Fund for East Timor, supported community organizations, and
funded forensics, human rights, independent media, and judicial
development projects.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO SUPPORT FOR EAST TIMOR.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States--
(1) should support formation of broad-based democracy in
East Timor, and help lay the groundwork for East Timor's
economic recovery, the strengthening of East Timor's security,
and the promotion of East Timor's ability to play a positive
role in the Asia-Pacific region and in international
organizations.
(2) should continue to support the provision of bilateral
and multilateral assistance to East Timor, with such assistance
targeted to creation of jobs, promotion of civil society,
preparation for East Timor's first elections, development of
East Timor's educational and health care systems, and support
for East Timor's judicial system and the truth and
reconciliation process;
(3) should begin to lay the groundwork, prior to East
Timor's independence, for an equitable future trade and
investment relationship with East Timor, including trade and
investment promotion activities to be carried out by the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Trade and
Development Agency, and the Export-Import Bank of the United
States;
(4) should officially open a diplomatic mission in East
Timor as soon as possible to ensure that the United States can
continue to play a leadership role in building East Timor's
political and economic future; and
(5) should support the efforts by the United Nations to
ensure justice and accountability related to past atrocities in
East Timor through United Nations investigations, United
Nations support for the development of East Timor's judicial
system, and the possible establishment of an international
tribunal for East Timor.
SEC. 4. BILATERAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) Authorization.--The President, acting through the Administrator
of the United States Agency for International Development, is
authorized and encouraged to provide assistance under the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) and other applicable
laws to support the transition to democracy and self-government in East
Timor.
(b) Additional Requirements.--Assistance provided pursuant to
subsection (a)--
(1) shall support the development of civil society,
including nongovernmental organizations in East Timor;
(2) shall promote the development of an independent news
media;
(3) shall support job creation and economic development in
East Timor, including support for microenterprise programs and
technical education, as well as environmental protection and
education programs;
(4) shall fund efforts to promote reconciliation, conflict
resolution, and prevention of further conflict with respect to
East Timor, including establishing accountability for past
gross human rights violations;
(5) shall support the repatriation and reintegration of
refugees into East Timor; and
(6) shall support political party development, voter
education, voter registration and other activities in support
of free and fair elections in East Timor.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2001, 2002, and 2003.
(2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) are
authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 5. MULTILATERAL ASSISTANCE.
The President shall instruct the United States executive director
at each international financial institution to which the United States
is a member, in particular the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development and the Asian Development Bank, to use the voice, vote,
and influence of the United States to ensure that the institution
provides timely and appropriate resources to help East Timor to
continue to develop its economy, meet basic human needs, and evolve
toward economic self-sufficiency, pluralism, and democracy.
SEC. 6. PEACE CORPS ASSISTANCE.
(a) Authorization.--The President, acting through the Director of
the Peace Corps, is authorized to carry out a program in East Timor
under the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) which shall include
the use of Peace Corps volunteers--
(1) to provide English language and other technical
training for individuals in East Timor as well as other
activities which promote education, economic development, and
economic self-sufficiency; and
(2) to quickly address immediate assistance needs in East
Timor using the Peace Corps Crisis Corps, to the extent
practicable.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--In addition to amounts otherwise available
to carry out subsection (a), there are authorized to be
appropriated $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001,
2002, and 2003 to carry out such subsection.
(2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) are
authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 7. TRADE AND INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE.
(a) OPIC.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the
President shall initiate negotiations with the United Nations
Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET), the National
Council of East Timor, and the government of East Timor (after
independence for East Timor)--
(1) to apply to East Timor the existing agreement between
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Indonesia, or
(2) to enter into a new agreement authorizing the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation to carry out programs with
respect to East Timor,
in order to expand United States investment in East Timor.
(b) Trade and Development Agency.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Trade and Development
Agency is authorized to carry out projects in East Timor under
section 661 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2421).
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--
(A) In general.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,000,000
for each of the fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003.
(B) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to
the authorization of appropriations under subparagraph
(A) are authorized to remain available until expended.
(c) Export-Import Bank.--The Export-Import Bank of the United
States shall expand its activities in connection with exports to East
Timor.
SEC. 8. GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
President should encourage the United Nations Transitional
Administration for East Timor (UNTAET), in close consultation with the
National Council of East Timor, to seek to become eligible for duty-
free treatment under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461
et seq.; relating to generalized system of preferences).
(b) Technical Assistance.--The United States Trade Representative
and the Commissioner of the United States Customs Service are
authorized to provide technical assistance to UNTAET, the National
Council of East Timor, and the government of East Timor (after
independence for East Timor) in order to assist East Timor to become
eligible for duty-free treatment under title V of the Trade Act of
1974.
SEC. 9. BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATY.
It is the sense of the Congress that the President should seek to
enter into a bilateral investment treaty with the United Nations
Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET), in close
consultation with the National Council of East Timor, in order to
establish a more stable legal framework for United States investment in
East Timor.
SEC. 10. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EAST TIMORESE STUDENTS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State,
$1,000,000 for the fiscal year 2002 and $1,000,000 for the fiscal year
2003 to carry out an East Timorese scholarship program under the
authorities of the United States Information and Educational Exchange
Act of 1948, the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961,
Reorganization Plan Number 2 of 1977, and the National Endowment for
Democracy Act. The Department of State shall make every effort to
identify and provide scholarships and other support to East Timorese
students interested in pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies at
institutions of higher education in the United States.
SEC. 11. PLAN FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC FACILITIES IN EAST TIMOR.
The Secretary of State shall develop a detailed plan for the
official establishment of a diplomatic mission in Dili, East Timor.
SEC. 12. SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR EAST TIMOR.
(a) Authorization.--Beginning on and after the date on which the
President transmits to the Congress a certification described in
subsection (b), the President is authorized--
(1) to transfer excess defense articles under section 516
of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2321j) to East Timor in accordance with
such section; and
(2) to provide military education and training under
chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2347 et seq.) for the armed forces of East Timor in
accordance with such chapter.
(b) Certification.--A certification described in this subsection is
a certification that--
(1) East Timor has established an independent armed forces;
and
(2) the assistance proposed to be provided pursuant to
subsection (a)--
(A) is in the national security interests of the
United States; and
(B) will promote both human rights in East Timor
and the professionalization of the armed forces of East
Timor.
SEC. 13. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than three months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every six months thereafter until January 1,
2004, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development, the Secretary
of the Treasury, the United States Trade Representative, the Secretary
of Commerce, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Director
of the Trade and Development Agency, the President of the Export-Import
Bank of the United States, and the Director of the Peace Corps, shall
prepare and transmit to the Committee on International Relations of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate a report that contains the information described in subsection
(b).
(b) Information.--The report shall include--
(1) significant developments in United States relations
with East Timor;
(2) developments in East Timor's political and economic
situation in the period covered by the report, including an
evaluation of any elections occurring in East Timor during this
period and the refugee reintegration process in East Timor;
(3) activities undertaken in East Timor by the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the
Asian Development Bank, and an evaluation of the effectiveness
of these activities;
(4) the status of United States trade and investment
relations with East Timor, including a detailed analysis of any
trade and investment-related activity supported by the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the
United States, and the Trade and Development Agency during the
period of time since the previous report and the status of any
negotiations with the United Nations Transitional
Administration for East Timor (UNTAET) or East Timor to
facilitate the operation of the United States trade agencies in
East Timor;
(5) the nature and extent of United States-East Timor
cultural, education, scientific, and academic exchanges, both
official and unofficial, and any Peace Corps activities;
(6) with respect to the first report, a detailed plan for
the establishment of diplomatic facilities in East Timor in
accordance with section 11, which may be submitted in
classified or unclassified form, and including a timetable for
the official opening of a facility in Dili, the personnel
requirements for the mission, the estimated costs for
establishing the facility, and its security requirements; and
(7) with respect to the first report, a 3-year plan for
United States foreign assistance to East Timor in accordance
with section 4, prepared by the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development, which outlines the
goals for United States foreign assistance to East Timor during
this 3-year period, and in subsequent reports, describes in
detail the expenditure of United States bilateral foreign
assistance during the period covered by the report.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Banking and Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Banking and Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Banking and Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Banking and Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line