McNair Paper Number 44, Chapter 2,  October 1995
**LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND**
The 94th Congress separated military training from the highly controversial Military Assistance Program (MAP) 19 years ago.(Note 2) With theInternational Security Assistance Act of 1976, Congressestablished a new grant assistance program under theForeign Assistance Act of 1961, entitled InternationalMilitary Education and Training (IMET), to helpcountries unable to purchase U.S. military trainingunder the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Act meet theirneeds.(Note 3)  Hearings held bythe House International Relations Committee clarified fundamentalcongressional intent.  Congress wished to help allies and friendly countriespursue their interests with an initiative that was practical, economical, andfocused on the future.  It saw military training as the most effective vehiclewithin the former grant military assistance program and wanted to sustain itwithout losing legislative control.(Note3)  Senior Defense officials at the time endorsed the new program asa better way to identify budgetary costs and program objectives, while stillproviding a means of maintaining military ties and strengthening the militarypotential of our friends and allies.(Note4)
	The legislative history of IMET has remained remarkably calm for twodecades, with only two major adjustments having been made.  The originalCongressional intent was twofold: 

(1) to encourage effective mutually beneficial relations and increased understanding between theUnited States and foreign countries in furtherance of goals of international peace and security; and

	(2) to improve the ability of participating foreign countries to utilize their resources, including defense articlesand defense services obtained from the United States, with maximum effectiveness, thereby contributing togreater self-reliance by such countries.

The first amendment to IMET, in 1978, expanded the program's initial purpose to "increase theawareness of nationals of foreign countries participating in such [military education andtraining] activities of basic issues involving internationally recognized human rights."(Note 6)
	In 1991, after confirming aspects of its earlier mandate, Congress modified the scope of theprogram.  This legislative amendment, entitled Expanded IMET (E-IMET), focused on:
- Responsible defense resource management
- Greater respect for and grasp of democracy and civilian rule of law, including the principleof civilian control of the military
- Military justice systems in a democracy
- Better understanding of internationally recognized human rights.

  Legislation between 1991 and 1993 also enlarged the candidate population to include civilianpersonnel from non-defense ministries, officials in the legislative branch who deal with militarymatters, and personnel from nongovernmental agencies having defense-related interests.  Toensure the initiative was taken seriously, Congress established a minimum funding level forthis element of the overall IMET program--$1 million in FY 1991.  It is the intent of the SenateAppropriations Committee (SAC) to have this amount increased annually by $1 million (e.g., to$5 million in FY 95).  The SAC also directed the Defense Security Assistance Agency inSeptember 1993 to "actively and continuously review its traditional IMET program foropportunities to shift funds more rapidly into expanded IMET initiative courses and training."(Note 7)
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