Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation Support Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1208
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2003-03-11 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Authorization
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Depressed areas
Development credit institutions
Economic assistance
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Ethnic relations
Europe
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Human rights
Ireland
Labor and Employment
Mediation
Military base closures
Minorities
Northern Ireland
Peace
Peace treaties
Police training
Police-community relations
Prisons
United Kingdom

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-11
text: Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation Support Act of 2003 - Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) U.S. assistance for the International Fund for Ireland has contributed greatly to the economic development of Northern Ireland and that both objectives of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986, economic development and reconciliation, remain critical to achieving a just and lasting peace in the region, especially in the economically-depressed areas; and (2) Fund contributions to support much-needed projects in economically-depressed areas of Northern Ireland remain very important, and an expansion of efforts in reconciliation projects is encouraged.
Amends the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 to encourage the Fund to support programs that enhance relations between communities, and between the police and the communities they serve, promote human rights training for police, enhance peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of continued conflict, and promote training programs to enhance the new district partnership police boards recommended by the Patten Commission.
 Authorizes certain appropriations for FY 2004 and 2005 for U.S. contributions to the Fund. Declares the sense of Congress that at least 20 percent of such amount for each such fiscal year should be used to carry out such programs to improve local community relations and relations between the police and the people they serve.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation Support Act of 2003 - Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) U.S. assistance for the International Fund for Ireland has contributed greatly to the economic development of Northern Ireland and that both objectives of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986, economic development and reconciliation, remain critical to achieving a just and lasting peace in the region, especially in the economically-depressed areas; and (2) Fund contributions to support much-needed projects in economically-depressed areas of Northern Ireland remain very important, and an expansion of efforts in reconciliation projects is encouraged.
Amends the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 to encourage the Fund to support programs that: (1) enhance relations between communities, and between the police and the communities they serve; (2) promote human rights training for police; (3) enhance peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of continued conflict; (4) promote training programs to enhance the new district partnership police boards recommended by the Patten Commission; and (5) assist in the transition of former British military installations and prisons into sites for peaceful, community-supported activities, such as housing, retail, and commercial development.
Authorizes certain appropriations for FY 2004 and 2005 for U.S. contributions to the Fund. Declares the sense of Congress that at least 20 percent of such amount for each such fiscal year should be used to carry out such programs to improve local community relations and relations between the police and the people they serve.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-01
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2497-2498)
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2497-2498)
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1208.
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2497-2500)
action_date: 2003-03-31
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-03-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2003-03-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-11
text: Introduced in House