IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 649 

Expressing the support of the United States for the grassroots development 

programs the Inter-American Foundation has undertaken for the past 

50 years. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 21, 2019 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. SIRES) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the support of the United States for the grassroots development programs the Inter-American Foundation has undertaken for the past 50 years. 

Whereas the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) was created 

under section 401 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 

(22 U.S.C. 290f) ‘‘to achieve conditions in the Western 

Hemisphere under which the dignity and the worth of 

each human person will be respected and under which all 

men will be afforded the opportunity to develop their potential, to seek through gainful and productive work the 

fulfillment of their aspirations for a better life, and to 

live in justice and peace’’; 


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•HRES 649 IH 

Whereas the IAF invests in effective grassroots solutions that 

promote prosperity and peace and advance the growth of 

democratic institutions; 

Whereas the development model of the IAF, applied through 

more than 5,000 community-led grants, has empowered 

millions of marginalized and underserved people in the 

Americas to achieve dignified livelihoods, effective civil 

engagement, and safer, more peaceful, and more just 

communities; 

Whereas the IAF’s model— 

(1) has demonstrated that making direct grants to 

grassroots groups and civil society organizations in underserved and vulnerable communities is cost effective; 

(2) fosters self-reliance by requiring grantees to mobilize local resources for their own projects and by connecting them to networks of new partners; 

(3) leverages additional resources from private and 

community partners; and 

(4) incentivizes broad civic engagement and local 

ownership of community development; 

Whereas the IAF, by investing in grassroots initiatives that 

create businesses, jobs, and leadership opportunities in 

communities, reinforces the commitment of individuals to 

strengthening their own communities; 

Whereas rather than going through contractors or foreign 

governments, the IAF provides direct funding to civil society organizations that support alternatives to migration, 

the drug trade, crime, unemployment, poverty, and exclusion; 

Whereas the IAF addresses the root causes of migration from 

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•HRES 649 IH 

led projects, such as the Organization for Youth Empowerment program in El Progreso, Honduras, a program that supports 2,300 at-risk youth with technical 

training, team building, and microscholarships to complete secondary school; 

Whereas the IAF has invested more than $5,000,000 since 

2017 in 45 projects focused on creating economic alternatives to coca production, building a resilient civil society to contribute to a stable Colombia in the wake of the 

country’s peace agreement; 

Whereas listening and responding to the priorities of communities has allowed the IAF to foster trust and goodwill 

with the people of Latin America and the Caribbean; and 

Whereas the IAF’s ability to harness private sector and local 

resources, yielding a commitment of $1.31 in counterpart 

funds for every $1 invested by the IAF in the last 5 

years, effectively leverages foreign assistance resources 

and improves the sustainability of its investments: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commends the Inter-American Foundation 

3 for its exemplary contributions in promoting eco4 nomic and social development, democracy, and peace 

5 in Latin America and the Caribbean; 

6 (2) recognizes that the IAF’s unique, bottom-up 

7 approach empowers individuals in marginalized and 

8 underserved communities to be leaders, entre9 preneurs, innovators, and change makers in their 

10 countries and communities; 


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•HRES 649 IH 

1 (3) affirms the importance of the IAF, more 

2 than 50 years after its founding, as the United 

3 States seeks to continue engagement in a complex 

4 region of the world; and 

5 (4) commits to continue to support the vital 

6 work of the IAF as an independent agency. 

Æ 


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