Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-1593
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2009-08-06 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Caribbean area
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Crime prevention
Economic development
Economic performance and conditions
Elementary and secondary education
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Foreign aid and international relief
Forests, forestry, trees
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Human rights
Latin America
Mexico
Rule of law and government transparency
Rural conditions and development
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Trade agreements and negotiations
Vocational and technical education
Western Hemisphere
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: 
Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2010 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, acting through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and working with governments and civil society in the Americas (all the countries of North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean), to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity by promoting education, improving health and disease prevention, increasing access to income generating activities, reducing crime, generating rural development, reducing poverty and inequality, eliminating the exclusion of marginalized populations, and strengthening the rule of law, governance, and democracy through the establishment of independent judiciaries, efficient processes to adjudicate claims, and effective law enforcement institutions. 
 
Authorizes appropriations for debt and equity financing for a Microfinance Growth Fund for the Americas.
 
Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) establish an advisory group on the feasibility of establishing a new public-private Fund for Social and Economic Development in the Americas; (2) conduct a joint study to determine the best strategy for increasing the use of renewable energy sources in the Americas; and (3) work with interested governments in Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico (the Region) to study mechanisms to facilitate regional and hemispheric carbon trading.
 

 
Authorizes appropriations to USAID: (1) for labor and environmental capacity building activities relating to the implementation of trade promotion agreements; (2) for programs in the Americas to reduce global warming; (3) to support activities in the Region involving adaptation to, and reduction in the negative impact of, environmental changes brought about by global warming and activities promoting sustainable forest management and reduction of deforestation.
 
Expresses support for the establishment of an Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate