Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act
Bill: H.R.8463 | Sponsor: Rep. Castro, Joaquin (D-TX)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act
This bill modifies income-related eligibility requirements for assistance from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a program that provides assistance through a competitive selection process to eligible developing countries based on various factors, including a country's level of economic freedom and effectiveness of government.
Currently, to be a candidate to receive MCC assistance, a country must, among other requirements, must (1) fit the World Bank's income-based criteria for a low- or lower-middle-income country, or (2) be among the 75 lowest per capita income countries according to the World Bank. Under this bill, a candidate country must have a gross national income per capita no higher than the 125th poorest country as identified by the World Bank for the fiscal year.

To modify the requirements under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 
            for candidate countries, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Millennium Challenge Corporation 
Eligibility Expansion Act''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS OF REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CANDIDATE COUNTRY.

    Section 606 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 
7705) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 606. CANDIDATE COUNTRIES.

    ``(a) In General.--A country shall be a candidate country for 
purposes of eligibility for receiving assistance under section 605 if--
            ``(1) the per capita income of the country is equal to or 
        less than the gross national income per capita of the 125th 
        poorest country as identified by the World Bank for the fiscal 
        year; and
            ``(2) subject to subsection (b), the country is not 
        ineligible to receive United States economic assistance under 
        part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 by reason of the 
        application of any provision of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
        1961 or any other provision of law.
    ``(b) Rule of Construction.--For the purposes of determining 
whether a country is eligible for receiving assistance under section 
605 pursuant to subsection (a)(2), the exercise by the President, the 
Secretary of State, or any other officer or employee of the United 
States of any waiver or suspension of any provision of law referred to 
in such paragraph, and notification to the appropriate congressional 
committees in accordance with such provision of law, shall be construed 
as satisfying the requirements of such subsection.
    ``(c) Identification by the Board.--The Board shall identify 
whether a country is a candidate country for purposes of this 
section.''.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Amendment to Millennium Challenge Compact Authority.--Section 
609(b)(2) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 
7708(b)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking the heading and inserting ``Country 
        contributions''; and
            (2) by striking ``with respect to a lower middle income 
        country described in section 606(b),''.
    (b) Amendment To Report Identifying Candidate Countries.--Section 
608(a)(1) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 
7707(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 606(a)(1)(B)'' and 
inserting ``section 606(a)(2)''.
    (c) Amendment to Authorization To Provide Assistance for Candidate 
Countries.--Section 616(b)(1) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 
(22 U.S.C. 7715(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``subsection (a) or (b) 
of section 606'' and inserting ``section 606(a)''.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION TO FACTORS IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY.

    Section 607(c)(2) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 
U.S.C. 7706(c)(2)) is amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
by striking ``consider'' and inserting ``prioritize need and impact by 
considering''.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 29, 2022.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.