I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 986 
To provide support for a robust global response to the COVID–19 pandemic. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2021 
Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois (for himself, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. CAS-
TRO of Texas, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. LEVIN of Michigan, Ms. 
OMAR, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. POCAN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. 
JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. PRESSLEY, and Ms. JAYAPAL) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To provide support for a robust global response to the 
COVID–19 pandemic. 
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 ‘‘Robust International 
Response to Pandemic Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR A ROBUST GLOBAL RESPONSE TO 
THE COVID–19 PANDEMIC. 
(a) UNITED STATES POLICIES
AT
THE INTER-
NATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall instruct the United States Executive Direc-
tor at each international financial institution (as de-
fined in section 1701(c)(2) of the International Fi-
nancial Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)(2))) to 
use the voice and vote of the United States at the 
respective institution— 
(A) to seek to ensure adequate fiscal space 
for world economies in response to the global 
coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly referred to 
as ‘‘COVID–19’’) pandemic through— 
(i) the suspension of all debt service 
payments to the institution; and 
(ii) the relaxation of fiscal targets for 
any government operating a program sup-
ported by the institution, or seeking fi-
nancing from the institution, in response 
to the pandemic; 
(B) to oppose the approval or endorsement 
of any loan, grant, document, or strategy that 
would lead to a decrease in health care spend-
ing or in any other spending that would impede 
the ability of any country to prevent or contain 
the spread of, or treat persons who are or may 
be infected with, the SARS–CoV–2 virus; and 
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(C) to require approval of all Special 
Drawing 
Rights 
allocation 
transfers 
from 
wealthier member countries to countries that 
are emerging markets or developing countries, 
based on confirmation of implementable trans-
parency mechanisms or protocols to ensure the 
allocations are used for the public good and in 
response to the global pandemic. 
(2) IMF ALLOCATION
OF
SPECIAL
DRAWING 
RIGHTS.—The United States Governor of the Inter-
national Monetary Fund shall advocate for an allo-
cation of not less than 2,000,000,000,000 Special 
Drawing Rights by the International Monetary Fund 
so that governments are able to access additional re-
sources to finance their responses to the global 
COVID–19 pandemic. 
(3) ALLOCATION
OF
U.S. SPECIAL
DRAWING 
RIGHTS.—Of the Special Drawing Rights allocated 
to the United States pursuant to the allocation de-
scribed in paragraph (2), the Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall lend 1,100,000,000 Special Drawing 
Rights to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust 
or other special purpose vehicle of the International 
Monetary Fund, to help eligible low-income countries 
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respond to the health and economic effects of the 
global COVID–19 pandemic. 
(4) AUTHORIZATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 6(a) of the Special Drawing Rights Act (22 
U.S.C. 286q(a)), the United States Governor of 
the International Monetary Fund may vote to 
allocate up to 2,000,000,000,000 Special Draw-
ing Rights under article XVIII of the Articles 
of the Agreement of the International Monetary 
Fund. 
(B) Section 5(f) of the Bretton Woods 
Agreements Act (22 U.S.C. 286c(f)) shall not 
apply to any loan made by the Secretary of the 
Treasury to the Poverty Reduction and Growth 
Trust or other special purpose vehicle of the 
International Monetary Fund, in an amount not 
to exceed 1,100,000,000 Special Drawing 
Rights in the aggregate, in order to enhance the 
International Monetary Fund’s support to eligi-
ble low-income countries: Provided, That the 
cost of the amounts authorized herein shall be 
determined as provided under the Federal Cred-
it Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.): 
Provided further, That section 504(b) of the 
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Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 
661c(b)) shall not apply. 
(b) UNITED STATES POLICY AT THE G20.—The Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall commence immediate efforts 
to reach an agreement with the Group of Twenty to extend 
through the end of 2021 the current moratorium on debt 
service payments to official bilateral creditors by the 
world’s poorest countries. 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.—The Chairman of the Na-
tional Advisory Council on International Monetary and Fi-
nancial Policies shall include in the annual report required 
by section 1701 of the International Financial Institutions 
Act (22 U.S.C. 262r) a description of progress made to-
ward advancing the policies described in subsection (a) of 
this section. 
(d) TERMINATION.—Subsections (a) and (c) shall 
have no force or effect on or after December 31, 2023. 
Æ 
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