H. R. 1143—15
‘‘(5) the promotion of good governance through combating
corruption and improving transparency and accountability.’’.
(b) DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE POLICY.—Section 102(b) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151–1(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (4)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (E);
(B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(G) progress in combating corruption and improving
transparency and accountability in the public and private
sector.’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(17) Economic reform and development of effective institu-
tions of democratic governance are mutually reinforcing. The
successful transition of a developing country is dependent upon
the quality of its economic and governance institutions. Rule
of law, mechanisms of accountability and transparency, security
of person, property, and investments, are but a few of the
critical governance and economic reforms that underpin the
sustainability of broad-based economic growth. Programs in
support of such reforms strengthen the capacity of people to
hold their governments accountable and to create economic
opportunity.’’.
SEC. 204. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
Section 129(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2151aa(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3) EMPHASIS ON ANTI-CORRUPTION.—Such technical assist-
ance shall include elements designed to combat anti-competi-
tive, unethical, and corrupt activities, including protection
against actions that may distort or inhibit transparency in
market mechanisms and, to the extent applicable, privatization
procedures.’’.
SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), as amended by sections
105 and 107, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 133. PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE GOOD GOVERNANCE.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAMS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President is authorized to establish
programs that combat corruption, improve transparency and
accountability, and promote other forms of good governance
in countries described in paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) COUNTRIES DESCRIBED.—A country described in this
paragraph is a country that is eligible to receive assistance
under this part (including chapter 4 of part II of this Act)
or the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of
1989.
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the President
shall give priority to establishing programs in countries that
received a significant amount of United States foreign assist-
ance for the prior fiscal year, or in which the United States
has a significant economic interest, and that continue to have
H. R. 1143—16
the most persistent problems with public and private corrup-
tion. In determining which countries have the most persistent
problems with public and private corruption under the pre-
ceding sentence, the President shall take into account criteria
such as the Transparency International Annual Corruption
Perceptions Index, standards and codes set forth by the Inter-
national Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the
International Monetary Fund, and other relevant criteria.
‘‘(4) RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Assistance provided for countries
under programs established pursuant to paragraph (1) may
be made available notwithstanding any other provision of
law that restricts assistance to foreign countries. Assistance
provided under a program established pursuant to para-
graph (1) for a country that would otherwise be restricted
from receiving such assistance but for the preceding sen-
tence may not be provided directly to the government of
the country.
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph (A) does not apply
with respect to—
‘‘(i) section 620A of this Act or any comparable
provision of law prohibiting assistance to countries that
support international terrorism; or
‘‘(ii) section 907 of the Freedom for Russia and
Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets
Support Act of 1992.
‘‘(b) SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.—The programs estab-
lished pursuant to subsection (a) shall include, to the extent appro-
priate, projects and activities that—
‘‘(1) support responsible independent media to promote
oversight of public and private institutions;
‘‘(2) implement financial disclosure among public officials,
political parties, and candidates for public office, open budgeting
processes, and transparent financial management systems;
‘‘(3) support the establishment of audit offices, inspectors
general offices, third party monitoring of government procure-
ment processes, and anti-corruption agencies;
‘‘(4) promote responsive, transparent, and accountable
legislatures and local governments that ensure legislative and
local oversight and whistle-blower protection;
‘‘(5) promote legal and judicial reforms that criminalize
corruption and law enforcement reforms and development that
encourage prosecutions of criminal corruption;
‘‘(6) assist in the development of a legal framework for
commercial transactions that fosters business practices that
promote transparent, ethical, and competitive behavior in the
economic sector, such as commercial codes that incorporate
international standards and protection of intellectual property
rights;
‘‘(7) promote free and fair national, state, and local elec-
tions;
‘‘(8) foster public participation in the legislative process
and public access to government information; and
‘‘(9) engage civil society in the fight against corruption.
‘‘(c) CONDUCT
OF PROJECTS
AND ACTIVITIES.—Projects and
activities under the programs established pursuant to subsection
H. R. 1143—17
(a) may include, among other things, training and technical assist-
ance (including drafting of anti-corruption, privatization, and
competitive statutory and administrative codes), drafting of anti-
corruption, privatization, and competitive statutory and administra-
tive codes, support for independent media and publications,
financing of the program and operating costs of nongovernmental
organizations that carry out such projects or activities, and assist-
ance for travel of individuals to the United States and other coun-
tries for such projects and activities.
‘‘(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development, shall pre-
pare and transmit to the Committee on International Relations
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate an annual report
on—
‘‘(A) projects and activities carried out under programs
established under subsection (a) for the prior year in pri-
ority countries identified pursuant to subsection (a)(3); and
‘‘(B) projects and activities carried out under programs
to combat corruption, improve transparency and account-
ability, and promote other forms of good governance estab-
lished under other provisions of law for the prior year
in such countries.
‘‘(2) REQUIRED CONTENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall contain the following information with respect
to each country described in paragraph (1):
‘‘(A) A description of all United States Government-
funded programs and initiatives to combat corruption and
improve transparency and accountability in the country.
‘‘(B) A description of United States diplomatic efforts
to combat corruption and improve transparency and
accountability in the country.
‘‘(C) An analysis of major actions taken by the govern-
ment of the country to combat corruption and improve
transparency and accountability in the country.
‘‘(e) FUNDING.—Amounts made available to carry out the other
provisions of this part (including chapter 4 of part II of this Act)
and the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of
1989 shall be made available to carry out this section.’’.
(b) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL REPORT.—The initial annual report
required by section 133(d)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961,
as added by subsection (a), shall be transmitted not later than
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
TITLE III—INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC
OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2000
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘International Academic Oppor-
tunity Act of 2000’’.
H. R. 1143—18
SEC. 302. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this title to establish an undergraduate
grant program for students of limited financial means from the
United States to enable such students to study abroad. Such foreign
study is intended to broaden the outlook and better prepare such
students of demonstrated financial need to assume significant roles
in the increasingly global economy.
SEC. 303. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN STUDY
BY AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS OF LIMITED FINAN-
CIAL MEANS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions and under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and
Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the Secretary of State shall establish
and carry out a program in each fiscal year to award grants of
up to $5,000, to individuals who meet the requirements of subsection
(b), toward the cost of up to one academic year of undergraduate
study abroad. Grants under this Act shall be known as the ‘‘Ben-
jamin A. Gilman International Scholarships’’.
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual referred to in subsection (a)
is an individual who—
(1) is a student in good standing at an institution of higher
education in the United States (as defined in section 101(a)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965);
(2) has been accepted for up to one academic year of study
on a program of study abroad approved for credit by the stu-
dent’s home institution;
(3) is receiving any need-based student assistance under
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
(4) is a citizen or national of the United States.
(c) APPLICATION AND SELECTION.—
(1) Grant application and selection shall be carried out
through accredited institutions of higher education in the
United States or a combination of such institutions under such
procedures as are established by the Secretary of State.
(2) In considering applications for grants under this
section—
(A) consideration of financial need shall include the
increased costs of study abroad; and
(B) priority consideration shall be given to applicants
who are receiving Federal Pell Grants under title IV of
the Higher Education Act of 1965.
SEC. 304. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
The Secretary of State shall report annually to the Congress
concerning the grant program established under this title. Each
such report shall include the following information for the preceding
year:
(1) The number of participants.
(2) The institutions of higher education in the United States
that participants attended.
(3) The institutions of higher education outside the United
States participants attended during their study abroad.
(4) The areas of study of participants.
SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each
fiscal year to carry out this title.