H. Res. 858 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
November 4, 2009. 
Whereas the IAF was originally created as an independent 
Federal agency to provide a new alternative model to tra-
ditional United States foreign assistance that promotes 
greater community-ownership and self-sustainability of 
development initiatives; 
Whereas the IAF has enabled millions of marginalized and 
poor people in Latin America and the Caribbean to im-
prove their lives through nearly 5,000 self-help grants for 
income and employment generation, civic education and 
citizen participation, access to credit and public re-
sources, food security, environmental sustainability, and 
cultural and social development; 
Whereas the IAF has proven that its people-to-people ap-
proach to foreign assistance, delivering aid funds directly 
to grassroots groups and local organizations of poor com-
munities, is remarkably cost-effective, targeting aid funds 
to those with the greatest need and those who will use 
them best; 
Whereas each year, hundreds of thousands of IAF grant par-
ticipants benefit from improved nutrition, medical care, 
access to clean water, agricultural and vocational skills, 
microcredit loans, small business management training, 
increased educational opportunities, and knowledge of
•HRES 858 EH 
sustainable agricultural techniques and environmental 
practices; 
Whereas many grassroots leaders supported by the IAF have 
gone on to leadership roles at the local and national lev-
els; 
Whereas the IAF’s beneficiary-driven, responsive approach 
has fostered trust between Latin American and Carib-
bean citizens and the United States Government by lis-
tening and responding to needs the people have identi-
fied, partnering with community-based groups and invest-
ing in projects that utilize and validate local knowledge 
and expertise; 
Whereas the IAF’s status as an independent United States 
Government aid agency allows for a streamlined grant- 
making process, the flexibility to respond quickly and 
adapt to people’s needs on the ground, and the ability to 
maintain a positive United States presence in the region; 
Whereas the IAF continues to demonstrate the political, dip-
lomatic, and strategic value of an independent United 
States Government aid agency with the ability to reach 
those on the economic, social, and cultural fringes of soci-
ety in neighboring countries, facilitating greater access to 
the licit economy, markets, and public policy decision- 
making processes; 
Whereas the IAF’s projects complement and strive to maxi-
mize the impact of other larger United States aid agen-
cies operating in Latin America and the Caribbean by en-
abling an important link between poor communities and 
larger-scale development activities; and 
Whereas the IAF was designed with strong bipartisan sup-
port and has maintained this balanced support through-
•HRES 858 EH 
out the four decades of its operations: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) congratulates the Inter-American Foundation 
(IAF) on its 40th anniversary; 
(2) recognizes that the IAF has demonstrated that 
its grassroots model for United States foreign assistance 
is effective; and 
(3) declares that the IAF is a vital component of 
United States foreign policy in the Americas and of the 
United States development agenda. 
Attest: 
Clerk.