I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3818
To establish a Middle East Development Initiative to provide development
assistance to countries in the Middle East region for the purpose of
promoting the peace process in that region.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 8, 1994
Mr. PENNY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To establish a Middle East Development Initiative to provide
development assistance to countries in the Middle East
region for the purpose of promoting the peace process
in that region.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Middle East Peace
and Development Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that the United States
should continue to promote peace in the Middle East
region by—
(1) encouraging the establishment of diplomatic
relations and subsequent friendly relationships
among Israel, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and other na-
tions in the region;
(2) promoting the shared development and use
of human, natural, material, and technological re-
sources of the region; and
(3) supporting self-determination for the Pal-
estinian people in the West Bank and Gaza.
SEC. 3. MIDDLE EAST DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall establish and
carry out a Middle East Development Initiative (in this
Act referred to as the ‘‘Initiative’’) to provide development
assistance to countries in the Middle East region for the
purpose of promoting the peace process in such region.
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—A country shall be eligible to
receive development assistance under the Initiative
only if the government of such country is engaged
in bilateral or multilateral discussions or negotia-
tions which promote the peace process in the Middle
East region.
(2) WEST BANK AND GAZA.—An organization
or any other entity located in the West Bank or
Gaza shall be eligible to receive development assist-
ance under the Initiative only if such organization or
entity is engaged in bilateral or multilateral discus-
sions or negotiations which promote the peace proc-
ess in the Middle East region.
(c) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.—The
President shall coordinate the Initiative with—
(1) other programs under which assistance for
development is provided to countries in the Middle
East region, including programs for the West Bank
and Gaza; and
(2) any other appropriate foreign assistance
programs that promote development in the Middle
East region, including programs established and car-
ried out by international organizations.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the President to carry out this Act
$260,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1995, 1996, and
1997. Amounts appropriated pursuant to the preceding
sentence are authorized to remain available until ex-
pended.
(b) OFFSETTING REDUCTION
IN SPENDING
FOR
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
FOR EGYPT
AND ISRAEL.—For
each of the fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997, the amount
of foreign assistance provided to Egypt and Israel shall
be reduced as follows:
(1) EGYPT.—The amount of foreign assistance
provided to Egypt shall be at least $110,000,000
less than the amount of such assistance provided to
Egypt for fiscal year 1994.
(2) ISRAEL.—The amount of foreign assistance
provided to Israel shall be at least $150,000,000 less
than the amount of such assistance provided to
Israel for fiscal year 1994.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act, the following definitions
apply:
(1) DEVELOPMENT
ASSISTANCE.—The term
‘‘development assistance’’ means assistance under
chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (relating to development assistance).
(2) FOREIGN ASSISTANCE.—The term ‘‘foreign
assistance’’ means assistance under the Foreign As-
sistance Act of 1961 or under the ‘‘Foreign Military
Financing Program’’ account under section 23 of
the Arms Export Control Act.
(3) MIDDLE EAST REGION.—The term ‘‘Middle
East region’’ means the region consisting of the fol-
lowing: Bahrain, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Ku-
wait, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Ara-
bia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, the West
Bank, and Yemen.
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