AGOA and MCA Modernization Act

To enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of programs under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act AGOA and MCA Modernization Act 2. Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Title I—Enhancement of the African Growth and Opportunity Act Sec. 101. Statement of policy. Sec. 102. Activities in support of transparency. Sec. 103. Activities in support of trade capacity building. Sec. 104. Eligible sub-Saharan African country. Title II—Modernization of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Sec. 201. Candidacy status. Sec. 202. Carryover authority for private-sector members of board of directors. Sec. 203. Additional reporting to the board on the treatment of civil society in an eligible country. Sec. 204. Concurrent compacts under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003. Sec. 205. Public notification of entering into a compact. Sec. 206. Disclosure. Sec. 207. Restriction on the use of assistance under section 616. Sec. 208. Study on subnational compacts. I Enhancement of the African Growth and Opportunity Act 101. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to support efforts to— (1) improve the rule of law, promote free and fair elections, strengthen and expand the private sector, and fight corruption in sub-Saharan Africa; and (2) promote the role of women in social, political, and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. 102. Activities in support of transparency (a) AGOA Website (1) In general The President shall establish a publicly available internet website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (in this section referred to as the AGOA Website (2) Contents The President shall publish on the AGOA Website the information described in paragraph (1), including— (A) information and technical assistance provided at United States Agency for International Development regional trade hubs; and (B) a link to the internet websites of United States embassies located in eligible sub-Saharan African countries. (3) Actions by United States embassies The Secretary of State should direct United States embassies located in eligible sub-Saharan African countries to— (A) promote the use by such countries of the benefits available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3701 (B) include on the internet websites of such diplomatic missions a link to the AGOA Website. (b) AGOA Forum The President should, after each meeting of the United States–Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, publish on the AGOA Website established under subsection (a) the following: (1) The outcomes of the meeting of the Forum, including any commitments made by member countries and the private sector. (2) An assessment of progress made with respect to any commitments made by member countries and the private sector from the previous meeting of the Forum. (c) Other information The President should disseminate information required by this section in a digital format to the public and publish such information on the AGOA Website established under subsection (a). 103. Activities in support of trade capacity building The President should take the following actions: (1) Developing and implementing policies to— (A) encourage and facilitate cross-boundary cooperation among eligible sub-Saharan African countries in order to facilitate trade; and (B) encourage the provision of technical assistance to eligible sub-Saharan African countries to establish and sustain adequate trade capacity development. (2) Providing specific training for businesses in eligible sub-Saharan African countries and government trade officials of such countries on accessing the benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and other trade preference programs. (3) Providing capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, formation of cooperatives, market research, and market development. (4) Providing capacity building training to promote diversification of African products and value-added processing. (5) Providing capacity building and technical assistance funding for African businesses and institutions to help such businesses and institutions comply with United States counterterrorism initiatives and policies. 104. Eligible sub-Saharan African country In this title, the term eligible sub-Saharan African country 19 U.S.C. 3703 II Modernization of the Millennium Challenge Corporation 201. Candidacy status (a) Low income countries Section 606(a) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7705(a) (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking (3) (4) (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by amending the paragraph heading to read as follows: Fiscal years 2005 through 2012 (B) by striking fiscal year 2005 or a subsequent fiscal year each of fiscal years 2005 through 2012 (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Fiscal year 2013 and subsequent fiscal years A country shall be a candidate country for purposes of eligibility for assistance for fiscal year 2013 or a subsequent fiscal year if the country— (A) has a per capita income not greater than the lower middle income country threshold established by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for such fiscal year; (B) is among the 75 countries identified by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development as having the lowest per capita income; and (C) meets the requirements under paragraph (1)(B). . (b) Lower middle income countries Section 606(b) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7705(b) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by amending the paragraph heading to read as follows: Fiscal years 2006 through 2012 (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking fiscal year 2006 or a subsequent fiscal year fiscal years 2006 through 2012 (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) Fiscal year 2013 and subsequent fiscal years In addition to the countries described in subsection (a), a country shall be a candidate country for purposes of eligibility for assistance for fiscal year 2013 or a subsequent fiscal year if the country— (A) has a per capita income not greater than the lower middle income country threshold established by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the fiscal year; (B) is not among the 75 countries identified by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development as having the lowest per capita income; and (C) meets the requirements under subsection (a)(1)(B). . (c) Reclassification Section 606 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7705 (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Treatment of countries with per capita income changes A country qualifying for candidate status under this section with a per capita income that changes during the fiscal year such that the country would be reclassified from a low income country to a lower middle income country or from a lower middle income country to a low income country shall retain its candidacy status in its former income classification for such fiscal year and the two subsequent fiscal years. . 202. Carryover authority for private-sector members of board of directors Section 604(c)(4)(B) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7703(c)(4)(B) (B) Other members Each member of the Board described in paragraph (3)(B)— (i) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; (ii) may be reappointed for a term of an additional 2 years; and (iii) may continue to serve in each such appointment until the earlier of— (I) the date on which his or her successor is appointed; or (II) the date that is one year after the expiration of his or her appointment or reappointment, as the case may be. . 203. Additional reporting to the board on the treatment of civil society in an eligible country Section 607 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7706 (1) in subsection (b)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (E), by adding and (C) by adding at the end the following: (F) the quality of the civil society enabling environment; ; (2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d) Reporting on treatment of civil society Before the Board selects an eligible country for a Compact under subsection (c), the Corporation shall provide information to the Board regarding the country’s treatment of civil society, including classified information, as appropriate. The information shall include an assessment and analysis of factors including— (1) any relevant laws governing the formation or establishment of a civil society organization, particularly laws intended to curb the activities of foreign civil society organizations; (2) any relevant laws governing the operations of a civil society organization, particularly those laws seeking to define or otherwise regulate the actions of foreign civil society organizations; (3) laws relating to the legal status of civil society organizations, including laws which effectively discriminate against foreign civil society organizations as compared to similarly situated domestic organizations; (4) laws regulating the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; and (5) laws regulating the usage of the Internet, particularly by foreign civil society organizations. . 204. Concurrent compacts under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (a) In general Section 609 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7708 (1) by striking the first sentence of subsection (k); (2) by redesignating subsection (k) (as so amended) as subsection (l); and (3) by inserting after subsection (j) the following: (k) Concurrent compacts An eligible country that has entered into and has in effect a Compact under this section may enter into and have in effect at the same time not more than one additional Compact in accordance with the requirements of this title if— (1) one or both of the Compacts are or will be for purposes of regional economic integration, increased regional trade, or cross-border collaborations; and (2) the Board determines that the country is making considerable and demonstrable progress in implementing the terms of the existing Compact and supplementary agreements thereto. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 613(b)(2)(A) of such Act ( 22 U.S.C. 7712(b)(2)(A) the Compact any (c) Applicability The amendments made by this section apply with respect to Compacts entered into between the United States and an eligible country under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 205. Public notification of entering into a compact Section 610 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7709 610. Congressional and public notification (a) Congressional consultations and notifications (1) In general The Board, acting through the Chief Executive Officer, shall consult with and notify the appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days before taking any of the actions described in paragraph (2). (2) Actions described The actions described in this paragraph are— (A) providing assistance for an eligible country under section 609(g); (B) commencing negotiations with an eligible country to provide assistance for— (i) a Compact under section 605; or (ii) an agreement under section 616; (C) signing such a Compact or agreement; and (D) terminating assistance under such a Compact or agreement. (3) Economic justification Any notification relating to the intent to negotiate or sign a Compact shall include a report describing the projected economic justification for the Compact, including, as applicable— (A) the expected economic rate of return of the Compact; (B) a cost-benefit analysis of the Compact; (C) a description of the impact on beneficiary populations; (D) the likelihood that the investment will catalyze private sector investments; and (E) any other applicable economic factors that justify each project to be funded under such a Compact to the extent practicable and appropriate. (4) Risk management plan Not later than 60 days before signing each concurrent Compact, as authorized under section 609, the Board, acting through the Chief Executive Officer, shall consult with and provide to the appropriate congressional committees— (A) an assessment and, as appropriate, the identification of potential measures to mitigate risks, of— (i) the countries’ commitment to regional integration and cross-border cooperation and capacity to carry out commitments; (ii) political and policy risks, including risks that could affect country eligibility; (iii) risks associated with realizing economic returns; (iv) time and completion risks; and (v) cost and financial risks; and (B) an assessment of measures to be taken to mitigate any identified risks, including— (i) securing other potential donors to finance projects or parts of projects as needed; and (ii) partnering with regional organizations to support and oversee effective cross-border cooperation. (b) Congressional and public notification after entering into a compact Not later than 10 days after entering into a Compact with an eligible country, the Board, acting through the Chief Executive Officer, shall— (1) publish the text of the Compact on the internet website of the Corporation; (2) provide the appropriate congressional committees with a detailed summary of the Compact and, upon request, the text of the Compact; and (3) publish in the Federal Register a detailed summary of the Compact and a notice of availability of the text of the Compact on the internet website of the Corporation. . 206. Disclosure (a) Requirement for timely disclosure Section 612(a) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7711(a) (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting timely disclosure (2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (A) by striking The Corporation Not later than 90 days after the last day of each fiscal quarter, the Corporation (B) by striking on at least a quarterly basis, (b) Dissemination Section 612(b) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7711(b) (b) Dissemination The Board, acting through the Chief Executive Officer, shall make the information required to be disclosed under subsection (a) available to the public— (1) by publishing it on the internet website of the Corporation; (2) by providing notice of the availability of such information in the Federal Register; and (3) by any other methods that the Board determines to be appropriate. . 207. Restriction on the use of assistance under section 616 Section 616(d) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 ( 22 U.S.C. 7715(d) (d) Funding (1) Limitation Not more than 10 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this Act for a fiscal year may be made available to carry out this section. (2) Restriction relating to assistance None of the funds authorized to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be available for assistance under this section to a country that does not qualify as a candidate country under section 606 for the fiscal year during which such assistance is provided. . 208. Study on subnational compacts (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, acting through the Chief Executive Officer, shall submit a study to the appropriate congressional committees that assesses the feasibility and desirability of developing partnerships at the subnational level within candidate countries that would be complementary to, and, as applicable, concurrent with, any Millennium Challenge Corporation national-level or regional investments. (b) Content The study required under subsection (a) shall examine— (1) the extent to which targeting investments at the subnational level might provide new opportunities for reducing poverty through economic growth; (2) the extent to which traditional approaches to defining poverty may not adequately capture the nature of poverty within a country; (3) the types of subnational entities that might be appropriate partners for subnational Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts; (4) how candidates for subnational partners might best be identified; and (5) what role each national government should play in creating or implementing a subnational partnership. (c) Appropriate congressional committees In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives January 3, 2018 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act or the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act This bill directs the President to establish a website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The Department of State is urged to promote the use by eligible sub-Saharan African countries of the benefits available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The President is urged to: facilitate trans-boundary trade among eligible sub-Saharan African countries; provide training for business and government trade officials on accessing AGOA benefits; provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, and market development; provide capacity building training to promote product diversification and value-added processing; and provide capacity building and technical assistance funding to help African businesses and institutions comply with U.S. counter-terrorism policies. The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is amended to permit an eligible country that has entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact to enter into one additional concurrent compact under specified conditions. Regarding a subsequent nonconcurrent compact, a country's eligibility shall be based on significantly improved performance across the criteria relevant to selection for the preceding compact. The bill establishes, beginning with FY2013, new assistance criteria for a low-income or a lower middle income candidate country eligible to enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact with the United States. The Millennium Challenge Corporation shall: (1) before selecting a compact country, provide the Board of Directors with information regarding the country's treatment of civil society; and (2) submit an assessment of the feasibility of developing partnerships at the sub-national level within candidate countries.