I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2819
To establish a program to provide assistance for developing countries of 
Eurasia and the Middle East. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 22, 2003
Mr. HOEFFEL (for himself, Mr. HOUGHTON, and Mr. MCDERMOTT) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Inter-
national Relations 
A BILL 
To establish a program to provide assistance for developing 
countries of Eurasia and the Middle East.
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 ‘‘Modern-Day Marshall 
Plan for Eurasia and the Middle East Act of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) After World War II, the United States es-
tablished a program to provide for the reconstruc-
tion of Europe, named after General George C. Mar-
shall and commonly referred to as the ‘‘Marshall 
Plan’’, which made a significant contribution to the 
stimulation of economic growth and international 
trade in Europe from 1948 to 1951, thereby helping 
to stem the spread of Communism and to foster sta-
ble political governments in Europe. 
(2) By providing assistance to Europe through 
the Marshall Plan, the United States recognized the 
direct link between economic growth and political 
stability, thereby investing resources into economic 
development and assistance. 
(3) The Marshall Plan is chiefly characterized 
by its integration of recipients into the development 
process, forming a partnership whereby European 
countries agreed to a ‘‘plan of action’’ that com-
mitted Europe to take steps toward solution of its 
economic and political problems prior to the formu-
lation of a program of assistance. 
(4) On April 17, 2002, President Bush stated 
in a speech at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI): 
‘‘[General] Marshall knew that our military victory 
against enemies in World War II had to be followed 
by a moral victory that resulted in better lives for 
individual human beings. America has a much great-
er purpose than just eliminating threats and con-
taining resentment. Because we believe in the dig-
nity and value of every individual, America seeks 
hope and opportunity for all people in all cultures.’’. 
(5) A principal objective of United States for-
eign assistance programs, as stated in the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961, continues to be the ‘‘encour-
agement and sustained support of the people of de-
veloping countries in their efforts to acquire the 
knowledge and resources essential to development 
and to build the economic, political, and social insti-
tutions which will improve the quality of their 
lives.’’. 
(6) Significant poverty, corruption, and human 
rights abuses in many countries of Eurasia and the 
Middle East contribute to the political and economic 
deterioration of those regions. 
(7) The potential resources of many countries 
of Eurasia and the Middle East are rich and plenti-
ful and can be developed in peace and in partnership 
through cooperation and mutual assistance. 
(8) The attacks against the United States that 
occurred on September 11, 2001, and the subse-
quent global war on terrorism, have enhanced 
United States strategic concern for the economic
and political future of countries of Eurasia and the 
Middle East. 
(9) United States foreign assistance programs 
continue to influence the direction of the Central 
Asia, Eurasia, and Middle East regions. 
(10) In 1972, the United Nations voted to rec-
ommend that developed countries should contribute 
an amount equal to 0.7 percent of their gross do-
mestic product for assistance to developing coun-
tries, however, the United States currently provides 
an amount equal to only 0.1 percent of its gross do-
mestic product for assistance to developing coun-
tries. 
(11) The magnitude of the economic, humani-
tarian, and political challenges in the Eurasia and 
Middle East regions is extensive and demands con-
sistent and enhanced input and assistance from the 
United States, particularly through the United 
States 
Agency 
for 
International 
Development 
(USAID) as well as extensive coordination with 
other appropriate United States agencies and inter-
national donor organizations, in order to effectively 
implement development assistance and effectively 
eliminate the causes of terrorism in these regions. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to enhance and increase United States for-
eign assistance to the developing countries of Eur-
asia and the Middle East; and 
(2) to assist such countries of Eurasia and the 
Middle East to grow, prosper, and to seize the op-
portunities of the global economy in order to achieve 
transparent, accountable, and politically stable 
democratic forms of government in such countries. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS; STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the United States Government should recognize 
that to promote politically stable and economically pros-
perous countries in Eurasia and the Middle East is in the 
national security interests of the United States. 
(b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It shall be the policy 
of the United States—
(1) to promote stable democracies and market 
economies in countries of Eurasia and the Middle 
East; 
(2) to encourage regular dialogue between 
United States Government officials and human 
rights organizations, civic organizers, reform-minded 
politicians and democratic activists in order to fur-
ther democratic reform and economic stability in de-
veloping countries of Eurasia and the Middle East; 
and 
(3) to encourage dialogue between United 
States Government officials and private sector indi-
viduals regarding the opening of markets and trans-
parency in business practices in countries of Eurasia 
and the Middle East. 
SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE POLITICAL STABILITY IN 
THE COUNTRIES OF EURASIA AND THE MID-
DLE EAST. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President is authorized, not-
withstanding any other provision of law, to establish and 
implement a program to provide economic assistance for 
the developing countries of Eurasia and the Middle East 
in order to promote political stability in such countries. 
(b) TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE.—Assistance provided 
under the program established under subsection (a) shall 
include assistance to promote—
(1) economic growth, trade, education, and in-
frastructure; 
(2) health, including assistance to prevent, 
treat, and monitor HIV/AIDS, family planning as-
sistance, and child survival assistance; and 
(3) democracy building and human rights.
(c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Assistance under the 
program established under subsection (a)—
(1) shall be provided in accordance with the 
terms and conditions utilized by the International 
Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the 
International Monetary Fund under the ‘‘Poverty 
Reduction Strategy Papers’’ process established by 
such institutions; and 
(2) shall be provided on such other terms and 
conditions as the President determines to be appro-
priate. 
(d) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.—The 
President shall coordinate the program established under 
subsection (a) with all other programs under which eco-
nomic assistance is provided to countries of Eurasia and 
the Middle East. 
(e) MULTILATERAL ASSISTANCE.—The President, 
acting through the Secretary of State and other appro-
priate officials of the United States Government, shall 
urge other appropriate countries to provide assistance to 
countries of Eurasia and the Middle East in accordance 
with the terms and conditions of assistance provided by 
the United States under this Act.