To establish an initiative for food and other assistance for individuals in Indonesia and Southeast Asia who are affected by the Asian financial crisis.

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIATIVE FOR FOOD AND OTHER ASSISTANCE 
              FOR INDIVIDUALS IN INDONESIA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA AFFECTED 
              BY THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS.

    (a) Establishment of Initiative.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States 
        Agency for International Development, in coordination with the 
        Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish an initiative for 
        food and other assistance for individuals in Indonesia and 
        Southeast Asia who are affected by the Asian financial crisis.
            (2) Conduct of food security elements of initiative.--In 
        carrying out the food security elements of the initiative 
        described in paragraph (1), the Administrator--
                    (A) shall establish, where appropriate, 
                agricultural commodity distribution technical 
                assistance, agricultural research, extension, farmer-
                to-farmer, and food assistance programs; and
                    (B) shall provide assistance to nongovernmental 
                organizations, including private voluntary 
                organizations and cooperatives, for programs to provide 
                food assistance in accordance with subsection (b).
    (b) Assistance to Nongovernmental Organizations.--
            (1) Request for funds.--In order to receive funds made 
        available under subsection (a)(2)(B), a nongovernmental 
        organization, private voluntary organizations, or cooperative 
        shall submit a request for funds in accordance with section 
        202(e) of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act 
        of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1722(e)).
            (2) Approval/disapproval procedures.--A request for funds 
        submitted by a nongovernmental organization, private voluntary 
        organizations, or cooperative under paragraph (1) shall be 
        approved or disapproved by the Administrator of the United 
        States Agency for International Development in accordance with 
        approval and disapproval procedures applicable to programs 
        under title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
        Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.).
    (c) Duration of Programs.--A program described in subsection (a) 
may be conducted for a period not to exceed 4 years.
    (d) Funding.--
            (1) Overall funding of initiative.--
                    (A) In general.--Of the amounts made available for 
                fiscal year 1999 for assistance under chapter 1 of part 
                I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 
                et seq.; relating to development assistance) and 
                chapter 4 of part II of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2346 et 
                seq.; relating to the economic support fund), 
                $100,000,000 shall be made available for such fiscal 
                year to carry out subsection (a)(2)(A).
                    (B) Sub-earmarks.--Of the amount available under 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) not less than 50 percent shall be made 
                        available to address food, medical, fuel, and 
                        other shortages in Indonesia and Southeast 
                        Asia, and for such other immediate and 
                        inexpensive actions that can expedite the 
                        distribution of items to address such 
                        shortages;
                            (ii) not less than 80 percent of the amount 
                        of assistance made available for Indonesia 
                        shall be made available, administered, or 
                        distributed through indigenous nongovernmental 
                        or private voluntary organizations;
                            (iii) not less than $6,000,000 shall be 
                        made available to support the development of 
                        political institutions and parties in Indonesia 
                        and Southeast Asia;
                            (iv) not less than $8,000,000 shall be made 
                        available to improve transparency and 
                        regulation of banking, financial, insurance, 
                        and securities institutions in Indonesia and 
                        Southeast Asia; and
                            (v) not less than $8,000,000 shall be made 
                        available to support legal and judicial reforms 
                        in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
            (2) Assistance to nongovernmental organizations.--Of the 
        amounts made available for fiscal year 1999 for assistance 
        under title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
        Assistance Act of 1954, not less than $60,000,000 shall be made 
        available for such fiscal year to carry out subsection 
        (a)(2)(B).
            (3) Availability of amounts.--Amounts made available under 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) are authorized to remain available until 
        expended.

Summary: Directs the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (AID) to establish an initiative for food and other assistance for individuals in Indonesia and Southeast Asia affected by the Asian financial crisis. Directs the Administrator of AID, in carrying out the food security elements of the initiative, to: (1) establish, where appropriate, agricultural commodity distribution technical assistance, agricultural research, extension, farmer-to-farmer, and food assistance programs. And (2) provide assistance to nongovernmental organizations, including private voluntary organizations and cooperatives, for programs to provide food assistance under this Act. Earmarks certain developmental and agricultural assistance and economic support fund assistance for the food security initiative, including assistance for: (1) food, medical, fuel, and other shortages in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. (2) developing political institutions and parties in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. (3) improvement of transparency and regulation of banking, financial, insurance, and securities institutions. And (4) support of legal and judicial reforms. Requires that at least 80 percent of the assistance to Indonesia be administered or distributed through indigenous nongovernmental or private voluntary organizations.