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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1935 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1935

 To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for United 
  States contributions to the International Fund for Ireland, and for 
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 27, 2005

 Mr. Santorum introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for United 
  States contributions to the International Fund for Ireland, 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 ``International Fund for Ireland 
Enhancement Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States has been effectively engaged in the 
        Northern Ireland peace process by participating in negotiations 
        and contributing to the economic development of both Northern 
        Ireland and the border areas of the Republic of Ireland that 
        are affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland.
            (2) The Government of Ireland, the Irish people, the 
        Government of the United Kingdom, and the British people are 
        longstanding friends of the United States Government and the 
        people of the United States.
            (3) In 1986, the United States, in support of the Agreement 
        Between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the 
        United Kingdom dated November 15, 1985 (``Anglo-Irish 
        Agreement''), established the International Fund for Ireland 
        (``International Fund'') to help bolster economic development 
        and support programs that would foster peace and reconciliation 
        in Northern Ireland and the affected border areas of the 
        Republic of Ireland.
            (4) The United States has been a generous and faithful 
        donor to the International Fund, contributing more than 
        $386,000,000 to help improve relations between Catholics and 
        Protestants in Northern Ireland through the creation of 
        thousands of jobs and the development of business opportunities 
        that allow Catholics and Protestants to work together.
            (5) More than 80 percent of the International Fund's 
        investments have been in disadvantaged areas. Programs funded 
        by the investments offer work experience and important job 
        training programs to disadvantaged and unemployed youth through 
        the economic, social, and physical regeneration of such areas.
            (6) The International Fund has also developed a series of 
        community-building programs promoting greater dialogue and 
        understanding between Catholics and Protestants and leadership 
        programs designed to develop a new generation of leaders in 
        Northern Ireland to bring about a more peaceful and prosperous 
        future in the region.
            (7) Section 2(b) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act 
        of 1986 (Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 947), states that the 
        purpose of the contributions from the United States to the 
        International Fund is to support the promotion of 
        ``reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the establishment of a 
        society in Northern Ireland in which all may live in peace, 
        free from discrimination, terrorism, and intolerance, and with 
        the opportunity for both communities to participate fully in 
        the structures and processes of government''.
            (8) Assistance from the United States to the International 
        Fund has contributed greatly to the economic development of 
        Northern Ireland and to accomplishing the objectives of the 
        Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986, namely economic 
        development and reconciliation, which are critical to achieving 
        a just and lasting peace in the region, especially in the 
        economically depressed areas of Northern Ireland.
            (9) The Agreement Reached in the Multi-Party Negotiations 
        in Belfast on April 10, 1998 (the ``Good Friday Agreement'') 
        created the Northern Ireland Executive Assembly and Executive 
        Committee and provided for a ``democratically elected Assembly 
        in Northern Ireland which is inclusive in its membership, 
        capable of exercising executive and legislative authority, and 
        subject to safeguards to protect the rights and interests of 
        all sides of the community''.
            (10) The Good Friday Agreement also called for police 
        reform and establishment of a ``new beginning'' in policing in 
        Northern Ireland with an effective, accountable, and fair 
        police service, which is capable of attracting and sustaining 
        support from the community as a whole, capable of maintaining 
        law and order, and based on principles of protection of human 
        rights.
            (11) In 1999, the Independent Commission on Policing in 
        Northern Ireland, a commission required by the Good Friday 
        Agreement, made 175 recommendations for policing reform in 
        Northern Ireland, some of which have been implemented.
            (12) In 2002, the Department of State issued a report 
        required by section 701(d) of the Foreign Relations 
        Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228; 116 
        Stat. 1419), called the ``Report on Policing Reform and Human 
        Rights in Northern Ireland''. The report concluded that a new 
        police training facility and an increase in funding for police 
        training programs were critically needed in Northern Ireland.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE ANGLO-IRISH AGREEMENT SUPPORT ACT OF 1986.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Assistance from the United States for the International 
        Fund for Ireland (``International Fund'') has contributed 
        greatly to the economic development of Northern Ireland and 
        that both objectives of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act 
        of 1986 (Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 947), namely economic 
        development and reconciliation, remain critical to achieving a 
        just and lasting peace in the region, especially in the 
        economically-depressed areas; and
            (2) since policing reform is a significant part of winning 
        public confidence in and acceptance of the new form of 
        government in Northern Ireland, the International Fund is 
        encouraged to support programs that enhance relations between 
        communities and enhance relations between the police and the 
        communities they serve, promote human rights training for 
        police, and enhance peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of 
        continued conflict.
    (b) Amendments.--
            (1) Findings and purposes.--Section 2(b) of the Anglo-Irish 
        Agreement Support Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 
        947) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        sentence: ``Furthermore, the International Fund is encouraged 
        to support programs that enhance relations between communities 
        and enhance relations between the police and the communities 
        they serve, promote human rights training for police, enhance 
        peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of continued conflict, 
        promote training programs to enhance the new district 
        partnership police boards recommended by the Patten Commission, 
        and assist in the transition of former British military 
        installations and prisons into sites for peaceful, community-
        supported activities, such as housing, retail, and commercial 
        development.''.
            (2) United states contributions to the international 
        funds.--Section 3 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 
        1986 (Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 947) is amended by adding at 
        the end, the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007.--Of the amounts made available 
for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to carry out chapter 4 of part II of the 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.; relating to the 
economic support fund), there are authorized to be appropriated 
$20,000,000 for each such fiscal year for United States contributions 
to the International Fund. Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under the preceding sentence are 
authorized to remain available until expended. Of the amount authorized 
to be appropriated for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 under this 
subsection, it is the sense of Congress that not less than 35 percent 
of such amount for each such fiscal year should be used to carry out 
the last sentence of section 2(b).''.
    (c) Annual Reports.--Section 6(1) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement 
Support Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-415; 100 Stat. 947) is amended by 
inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, specifically through 
improving local community relations and relations between the police 
and the people they serve''.
                                 <all>
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