AGOA and MCA Modernization Act

Bill: 115-s-832
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Business education
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign aid and international relief
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act or the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act

 
 This bill directs the President to establish a website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). 
 
 The Department of State is urged to encourage eligible sub-Saharan African countries to use the benefits available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. 
 
 The President is urged to:
 
 
 facilitate trans-boundary trade among eligible sub-Saharan African countries; 
 
provide training for business and government trade officials on accessing AGOA benefits; 
 
provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, and market development;
 
provide capacity building training to promote product diversification and value-added processing; and 
 
provide capacity building and technical assistance funding to help African businesses and institutions comply with U.S. counter-terrorism policies. 
 
 
 The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is amended to permit an eligible country that has entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact to enter into one additional compact under specified conditions. 
 
The bill establishes, beginning with FY2013, new assistance criteria for a low-income or a lower-middle-income candidate country eligible to enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact with the United States. 
 
The Millennium Challenge Corporation shall: (1) before selecting a compact country, provide the Board of Directors with information regarding the country's treatment of civil society; and (2) submit an assessment of the feasibility of developing partnerships at the subnational level within candidate countries.

action_date: 2017-10-17
text: 

African Growth and Opportunity Act and Millennium Challenge Act Modernization Act or the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act

 
 This bill directs the President to establish a website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). 
 
 The Department of State is urged to encourage eligible sub-Saharan African countries to use AGOA benefits. 
 
 The President is urged to:
 
 
 facilitate trans-boundary trade among eligible sub-Saharan African countries; 
 
provide AGOA benefits training for business and government trade officials; 
 
provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, and market development; and 
 
provide capacity building training. 
 
 
 The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is amended to permit an eligible country that has entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact to enter into one additional compact. 
 
The bill establishes new assistance criteria for a low-income or a lower-middle-income candidate country to enter into a compact with the United States. 
 
The Millennium Challenge Corporation shall: (1) before selecting a compact country, provide the Board of Directors with information regarding the country's treatment of civil society; and (2) assess the feasibility of developing subnational partnerships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 246.
action_date: 2017-10-17
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2017-10-17
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2017-10-05
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate