I

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4142

To prohibit United States foreign assistance to countries that restrict the

transport or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance to other

countries.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 24, 1994

Mr. LEHMAN (for himself, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr.

FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. MOORHEAD, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. BILBRAY,

Mr. TORRES, Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. KENNEDY,

Mrs. ROUKEMA, Mr. KLEIN, and Mr. MENENDEZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

A BILL

To prohibit United States foreign assistance to countries

that restrict the transport or delivery of United States

humanitarian assistance to other countries.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Humanitarian Aid

5 Corridor Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds the following:
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1 (1) The United States is entering a new era in

2 foreign assistance wherein the Federal budget deficit

3 and spending constraints require the maximum

4 usage of each foreign aid dollar.

5 (2) The delivery of humanitarian assistance to

6 people in need is consistent with the fundamental

7 values of our Nation and its people and is a vital

8 component of United States foreign policy.

9 (3) As a matter of principle and in furtherance

10 of fiscal prudence, the United States must seek to

11 promote the delivery of humanitarian assistance to

12 people in need in a manner that is both timely and

13 cost effective.

14 (4) As a matter of United States policy in the

15 allocation of United States foreign assistance or

16 other benefits, countries that are themselves the re17 cipients of such foreign assistance should be ex18 pected to act in a manner that neither hinders nor

19 delays the efficient transport or delivery of United

20 States humanitarian assistance to other countries.
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1 SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO COUN2 TRIES THAT RESTRICT THE TRANSPORT OR

3 DELIVERY OF UNITED STATES HUMANI4 TARIAN ASSISTANCE TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi6 sion of law, funds appropriated or otherwise made avail7 able for foreign assistance programs for a fiscal year may

8 not be used to provide assistance or other benefits to any

9 country for that portion of such fiscal year during which

10 the government of such country prohibits or otherwise re11 stricts the transport or delivery of United States humani12 tarian assistance to any other country.

13 (b) EXCEPTIONS.—(1) The prohibition on assistance

14 contained in subsection (a) shall not apply with respect

15 to a country for a fiscal year if the President determines

16 that providing such assistance—

17 (A) is in the national interest of the United

18 States; or

19 (B) will, subject to paragraph (2), benefit di20 rectly non-military personnel, including refugees,

21 who are in immediate risk of danger resulting from

22 a natural or man-made disaster.

23 (2) Assistance provided under paragraph (1)(B)—

24 (A) shall be in the form of humanitarian assist25 ance; and
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1 (B) shall be distributed directly to non-military

2 personnel or distributed to such personnel through

3 international relief organizations.

4 (c) NOTIFICATION OF CONGRESS.—The President

5 shall notify the Congress of any determination made under

6 subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1) to provide

7 assistance to a country 15 days before providing such as8 sistance to such country.

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