Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1271
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2013-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Foreign aid and international relief
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2013-07-10
text: 
Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2013 - Directs the President to establish guidelines for the establishment of measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for U.S. foreign assistance. 
 
Requires: (1) each appropriate federal department or agency to begin using such guidelines within one year after their establishment, and (2) the President to submit a related report to Congress within 18 months. 
 
Directs the President to require the Secretary of State to revise the Department of State's Internet website, ForeignAssistance.gov, to make publicly available comprehensive and accessible information on U.S. foreign assistance programs on a country-by-country and program-by program basis. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress shall take into account certain Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports required by this Act when making decisions regarding the appropriation of funds for each department or agency that administers U.S. foreign assistance.
 
Authorizes a department or agency to use up to 5% of its foreign development assistance funds for activities under this Act.

action_date: 2013-12-20
text: 
Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) Directs the President to establish guidelines for the establishment of measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for U.S. foreign assistance programs. 
 
Requires: (1) each appropriate federal department or agency to begin using such guidelines within one year after their establishment, and (2) the President to submit a related report to Congress within 18 months. 
 
States that the Secretary of State shall not be required to implement guidelines for certain security sector assistance programs to the extent that the President is already taking steps to implement measures with respect to similar security sector assistance. 
 
Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to submit related reports to Congress.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the President to require the Secretary of State to revise the Department of State's Internet website, ForeignAssistance.gov, to make publicly available comprehensive and accessible information on U.S. foreign assistance programs on a country-by-country and program-by program basis. 
 
(Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress shall take into account certain GAO reports required by this Act when making decisions regarding the appropriation of funds for each department or agency that administers U.S. foreign assistance.
 
(Sec. 5) Authorizes a department or agency to use up to 5% of its foreign development assistance funds for activities under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-12-20
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 283.
action_date: 2013-12-20
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-131.
action_date: 2013-12-20
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-131.
action_date: 2013-11-14
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2013-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2013-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate