Modern-Day Marshall Plan for Eurasia and the Middle East Act of 2003 - Declares that it shall be the policy of the United States to (1) promote stable democracies and market economies in Eurasia and the Middle East, and (2) encourage dialogue between U.S. officials and human rights organizations, civic organizers, politicians, and activists to further democratic reform and economic stability in developing countries there, and (3) encourage dialogue between U.S. officials and the private sector regarding the opening of markets and transparency in business in Eurasia and the Middle East.
Authorizes the President to establish and implement a program to provide economic assistance for the developing countries of Eurasia and the Middle East to foster political stability through programs which promote: (1) economic growth, trade, education and infrastructure; (2) health; and (3) democracy building and human rights.
Requires the President to urge other appropriate countries to provide similar assistance.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2819 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2819
To establish a program to provide assistance for developing countries
of Eurasia and the Middle East.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2003
Mr. Hoeffel (for himself, Mr. Houghton, and Mr. McDermott) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to provide assistance for developing countries
of Eurasia and the Middle East.
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 ``Modern-Day Marshall Plan for Eurasia
and the Middle East Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) After World War II, the United States established a
program to provide for the reconstruction of Europe, named
after General George C. Marshall and commonly referred to as
the ``Marshall Plan'', which made a significant contribution to
the stimulation of economic growth and international trade in
Europe from 1948 to 1951, thereby helping to stem the spread of
Communism and to foster stable political governments in Europe.
(2) By providing assistance to Europe through the Marshall
Plan, the United States recognized the direct link between
economic growth and political stability, thereby investing
resources into economic development and assistance.
(3) The Marshall Plan is chiefly characterized by its
integration of recipients into the development process, forming
a partnership whereby European countries agreed to a ``plan of
action'' that committed Europe to take steps toward solution of
its economic and political problems prior to the formulation of
a program of assistance.
(4) On April 17, 2002, President Bush stated in a speech at
the Virginia Military Institute (VMI): ``[General] Marshall
knew that our military victory against enemies in World War II
had to be followed by a moral victory that resulted in better
lives for individual human beings. America has a much greater
purpose than just eliminating threats and containing
resentment. Because we believe in the dignity and value of
every individual, America seeks hope and opportunity for all
people in all cultures.''.
(5) A principal objective of United States foreign
assistance programs, as stated in the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, continues to be the ``encouragement and sustained support
of the people of developing countries in their efforts to
acquire the knowledge and resources essential to development
and to build the economic, political, and social institutions
which will improve the quality of their lives.''.
(6) Significant poverty, corruption, and human rights
abuses in many countries of Eurasia and the Middle East
contribute to the political and economic deterioration of those
regions.
(7) The potential resources of many countries of Eurasia
and the Middle East are rich and plentiful and can be developed
in peace and in partnership through cooperation and mutual
assistance.
(8) The attacks against the United States that occurred on
September 11, 2001, and the subsequent global war on terrorism,
have enhanced United States strategic concern for the economic
and political future of countries of Eurasia and the Middle
East.
(9) United States foreign assistance programs continue to
influence the direction of the Central Asia, Eurasia, and
Middle East regions.
(10) In 1972, the United Nations voted to recommend that
developed countries should contribute an amount equal to 0.7
percent of their gross domestic product for assistance to
developing countries, however, the United States currently
provides an amount equal to only 0.1 percent of its gross
domestic product for assistance to developing countries.
(11) The magnitude of the economic, humanitarian, and
political challenges in the Eurasia and Middle East regions is
extensive and demands consistent and enhanced input and
assistance from the United States, particularly through the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as
well as extensive coordination with other appropriate United
States agencies and international donor organizations, in order
to effectively implement development assistance and effectively
eliminate the causes of terrorism in these regions.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to enhance and increase United States foreign
assistance to the developing countries of Eurasia and the
Middle East; and
(2) to assist such countries of Eurasia and the Middle East
to grow, prosper, and to seize the opportunities of the global
economy in order to achieve transparent, accountable, and
politically stable democratic forms of government in such
countries.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States Government should recognize that to promote politically stable
and economically prosperous countries in Eurasia and the Middle East is
in the national security interests of the United States.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United
States--
(1) to promote stable democracies and market economies in
countries of Eurasia and the Middle East;
(2) to encourage regular dialogue between United States
Government officials and human rights organizations, civic
organizers, reform-minded politicians and democratic activists
in order to further democratic reform and economic stability in
developing countries of Eurasia and the Middle East; and
(3) to encourage dialogue between United States Government
officials and private sector individuals regarding the opening
of markets and transparency in business practices in countries
of Eurasia and the Middle East.
SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE POLITICAL STABILITY IN THE COUNTRIES OF
EURASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
(a) In General.--The President is authorized, notwithstanding any
other provision of law, to establish and implement a program to provide
economic assistance for the developing countries of Eurasia and the
Middle East in order to promote political stability in such countries.
(b) Types of Assistance.--Assistance provided under the program
established under subsection (a) shall include assistance to promote--
(1) economic growth, trade, education, and infrastructure;
(2) health, including assistance to prevent, treat, and
monitor HIV/AIDS, family planning assistance, and child
survival assistance; and
(3) democracy building and human rights.
(c) Terms and Conditions.--Assistance under the program established
under subsection (a)--
(1) shall be provided in accordance with the terms and
conditions utilized by the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary
Fund under the ``Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers'' process
established by such institutions; and
(2) shall be provided on such other terms and conditions as
the President determines to be appropriate.
(d) Coordination With Other Programs.--The President shall
coordinate the program established under subsection (a) with all other
programs under which economic assistance is provided to countries of
Eurasia and the Middle East.
(e) Multilateral Assistance.--The President, acting through the
Secretary of State and other appropriate officials of the United States
Government, shall urge other appropriate countries to provide
assistance to countries of Eurasia and the Middle East in accordance
with the terms and conditions of assistance provided by the United
States under this Act.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004 and
each subsequent fiscal year.
(b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to
remain available until expended.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
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