IV 

107TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 573

Providing that development assistance by the United States to foreign countries should be provided only to countries that work toward economic 

and political freedom to improve the living standards of all of its citizens. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 3, 2002

Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma (for himself, Mr. ROYCE, and Mr. THORNBERRY) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on International Relations 

RESOLUTION

Providing that development assistance by the United States 

to foreign countries should be provided only to countries 

that work toward economic and political freedom to improve the living standards of all of its citizens.

Whereas it is in the national security interests of the United 

States to enhance democracy, free and fair elections, 

freedom of the press, liberty, prosperity, open markets, 

and the rule of law; 

Whereas a goal of the foreign policy of the United States 

should be to produce a new global community of economically self-sustaining countries by working to reduce poverty, corruption, hopelessness, ignorance, intolerance, and 

the roots of terrorism throughout the world; 
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Whereas since World War II, the United States has provided 

more international development assistance than any other 

country to respond to humanitarian disasters and promote economic development; 

Whereas between 1945 and 1999, taxpayers in the United 

States directly contributed more than $500,000,000,000 

to foreign development assistance programs; 

Whereas economically free countries have higher life 

expectancies, higher literacy rates, higher labor and environmental standards, greater protections of human 

rights, and greater foreign and domestic investment confidence; 

Whereas not all recipients of foreign development assistance 

from the United States have implemented policies that 

encourage economic and political growth and stability or 

improvements in the health and well-being of their citizens; and 

Whereas foreign development assistance is most effective in 

promoting economic growth in countries with stable macroeconomic environments, sound judiciary policy, open 

trade regimes, respect for property rights, and a sound 

rule of law: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved,

2 SECTION 1. PROVISION OF NONHUMANITARIAN ASSIST3 ANCE. 

4 The United States—

5 (1) should provide nonhumanitarian develop6 ment assistance only to countries that encourage 

7 free and open market policies, practice free and fair 
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1 elections, advance democracy and the rule of law, 

2 root out corruption, and promote higher standards 

3 of living for all its citizens; and 

4 (2) should provide nonhumanitarian develop5 ment assistance to a country only if the country is 

6 making progress toward economic freedom based on 

7 such factors as protection of the right of citizens to 

8 own property, transparency in government, privat9 ization, investment in health care and education, 

10 stable and independent monetary and wage and 

11 price policies, trade liberalization, and reduction in 

12 government corruption. 

13 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

14 For purposes of this resolution—

15 (1) the term ‘‘development assistance’’ means 

16 government-to-government programs for promoting 

17 economic growth and democracy promotion; and 

18 (2) the term ‘‘humanitarian assistance’’ means 

19 international disaster aid, food assistance, medicine, 

20 refugee aid, child surival assistance, HIV/AIDS/glob21 al health assistance, basic education, environmental 

22 protection, and assistance provided through non23 governmental organizations.

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