Microenterprise for Self-Reliance and International Anti-Corruption Act of 2000
PL 106-309 (H.R.1143), enacted 10/17/2000

114 STAT. 1078 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
Public Law 10&-309 
106th Congress 
Oct. 17, 2000 
[H.R. 1143] 
Microenterprise 
for Self-Reliance 
and International 
Anti-Corruption 
Act of 2000. 
22 u s e 2151 
note. 
An Act 
To establish a program to provide assistance for programs of credit and other 
financial services for microenterprises in developing countries, and for other 
piirposes. 
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 "Microenterprise for Self-Rehance 
and International Anti-Corruption Act of 2000". 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—MICROENTERPRISE FOR SELF-RELIANCE ACT OF 2000 
Sec. 101. Short title. 
Sec. 102. Findings and declarations of policy. 
Sec. 103. Purposes. 
Sec. 104. Definitions. 
Sec. 105. Microenterprise development grant assistance. 
Sec. 106. Micro- and small enterprise development credits. 
Sec. 107. United States Microfinance Loan Facility. 
Sec. 108. Report relating to future development of microenterprise institutions. 
Sec. 109. United States Agency for International Development as global leader and 
coordinator of bilateral and multilateral microenterprise assistance 
activities. 
Sec. 110. Sense of the Congress on consideration of Mexico as a key priority in 
microenterprise funding allocations. 
TITLE II—INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE 
ACT OF 2000 
Sec. 201. Short title. 
Sec. 202. Findings and purpose. 
Sec. 203. Development assistance policy. 
Sec. 204. Department of tiie Treasury technical assistance program for developing 
countries. 
Sec. 205. Authorization of good governance programs. 
TITLE III—INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2000 
Sec. 301. Short title. 
Sec. 302. Statement of purpose. 
Sec. 303. Establishment of grant program for foreign study by American college 
students of limited financial means. 
Sec. 304. Report to Congress. 
Sec. 305. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 306. Effective date. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 401. Support for Overseas Cooperative Development Act. 
Sec. 402. Funding of certain environmental assistance activities of USAID. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1079 
Sec. 403. Processing of applications for transportation of humanitarian assistance 
abroad by the Department of Defense. 
404. Working capital fund. 
405. Increase in authorized number of employees and representatives of the 
United States mission to the United Nations provided living quarters in 
New York. 
406. Availability of VOA and Radio Marti multilingual computer readable text 
and voice recordings. 
407. Availability of certain materials of the Voice of America. 
408. Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program Act of 2000. 
Sec 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
Sec. 
T I T L E I — M I C R O E N T E R P R I S E F O R S E L F - 
Microenterpnse 
RELLVNCE ACT OF 2000 
A ^ S f ' 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "Microenterprise for Self-Reliance 
Act of 2000". 
SEC. 102. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS OF POLICY. 
Congress makes the following findings and declarations: 
(1) According to the World Bank, more than 1,200,000,000 
people in the developing world, or one-fifth of the world's popu-
lation, subsist on less than $1 a day. 
(2) Over 32,000 of their children die each day from largely 
preventable malnutrition and disease. 
(3)(A) Women in poverty generally have larger work loads 
and less access to educational and economic opportunities than 
their male counterparts. 
(B) Directly aiding the poorest of the poor, especially 
women, in the developing world has a positive effect not only 
on family incomes, but also on child nutrition, health and 
education, as women in particular reinvest income in their 
families. 
(4)(A) The poor in the developing world, particularly 
women, generally lack stable employment and social safety 
nets. 
(B) Many turn to self-emplojonent to generate a substantial 
portion of their livelihood. In Africa, over 80 percent of employ-
ment is generated in the informal sector of the self-employed 
poor. 
(C) These poor entrepreneurs are often trapped in poverty 
because they cannot obtain credit at reasonable rates to build 
their asset base or expand their otherwise viable self-employ-
ment activities. 
(D) Many of the poor are forced to pay interest rates 
as high as 10 percent per day to money lenders. 
(5)(A) The poor are able to expand their incomes and their 
businesses dramatically when they can access loans at reason-
able interest rates. 
(B) Through the development of self-sustaining micro-
finance programs, poor people themselves can lead the fight 
against hunger and poverty. 
(6)(A) On February 2-4, 1997, a global Microcredit Summit 
was held in Washington, District of Columbia, to launch a 
plan to expand access to credit for self-emplo3anent and other 
financial and business services to 100,000,000 of the world's 
poorest families, especially the women of those families, by 
2005. While this scale of outreach may not be achievable in 
22 u s e 2151 
note. 
22 u s e 2151f 
note. 
114 STAT. 1080 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
this short time-period, the realization of this goal could dramati-
cally alter the face of global poverty. 
(B) With an average family size of five, achieving this 
goal will mean that the benefits of microfinance will thereby 
reach nearly half of the world's more than 
1,000,000,000 
absolute poor people. 
(7)(A) Nongovernmental organizations, such as those that 
comprise the Microenterprise Coalition (such as the Grameen 
Bank (Bangladesh), K-REP (Kenya), and networks such as 
Accion International, the Foundation for International Commu-
nity Assistance (FINCA), and the credit union movement) are 
successful in lending directly to the very poor. 
(B) Microfinance institutions such as BRAC (Bangladesh), 
BancoSol (Bolivia), SEWA Bank (India), and ACEP (Senegal) 
are regulated financial institutions that c£in raise funds directly 
from the local and international capitsd markets. 
(8)(A) Microenterprise institutions not only reduce poverty, 
but also reduce the dependency on foreign assistance. 
(B) Interest income on the credit portfolio is used to pay 
recurring institutional costs, assuring the long-term sustain-
ability of development assistance. 
(9) Microfinance institutions leverage foreign assistance 
resources because loans are recycled, generating new benefits 
to program participants. 
(10)(A) The development of sustainable 
microfinance 
institutions that provide credit and training, and mobilize 
domestic savings, is a critical component to a global strategy 
of poverty reduction and broad-based economic development. 
(B) In the efforts of the United States to lead the develop-
ment of a new global financial architecture, microenterprise 
should play a vital role. The recent shocks to international 
financial markets demonstrate how the financial sector can 
shape the destiny of nations. Microfinance can serve as a power-
ful tool for building a more inclusive finsincial sector which 
serves the broad majority of the world's population including 
the very poor and women and thus generate more social sta-
bility and prosperity. 
(C) Over the last two decades, the United States has been 
a global leader in promoting the global microenterprise sector, 
primarily through its development assistance programs at the 
United States iA^ency for International Development. Addition-
ally, the Department of the Treasury and the Department 
of State have used their authority to promote microenterprise 
in the development programs of international financial institu-
tions and the United Nations. 
(11)(A) In 1994, the United States Agency for International 
Development launched the "Microenterprise Initiative" in part-
nership with the Congress. 
(B) The initiative committed to expanding funding for the 
microenterprise programs of the Agency, and set a goal that, 
by the end of fiscal year 1996, one-half of all microenterprise 
resources would support programs and institutions that provide 
credit to the poorest, with loans under $300. 
(C) In order to achieve the goal of the microcredit summit, 
increased investment in microfinance institutions serving the 
poorest will be critical. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1081 
(12) Providing the United States share of the global invest-
ment needed to achieve the goal of the microcredit summit 
will require only a small increase in United States funding 
for international microcredit programs, with an increased focus 
on institutions serving the poorest. 
(13)(A) In order to reach tens of millions of the poorest 
with microcredit, it is crucial to expand and replicate successful 
microfinance institutions. 
(B) These institutions need assistance in developing their 
institutional capacity to expand their services and tap commer-
cial sources of capital. 
(14) Nongovernmental organizations have demonstrated 
competence in developing networks of local microfinance institu-
tions and other assistance delivery mechanisms so that they 
reach large numbers of the very poor, and achieve financial 
sustainability. 
(15) Recognizing that the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development has developed very effective partnerships 
with nongovernmental organizations, and that the Agency will 
have fewer missions overseas to carry out its work, the Agency 
should place priority on investing in those nongovernmental 
network institutions that meet performance criteria through 
the central funding mechanisms of the Agency. 
(16) By expanding and replicating successful microfinance 
institutions, it should be possible to create a global infrastruc-
ture to provide financial services to the world's poorest families. 
(17)(A) The United States can provide leadership to other 
bilateral and multilateral development agencies as such agen-
cies expand their support to the microenterprise sector. 
(B) The United States should seek to improve coordination 
among G
—
7 countries in the support of the microenterprise 
sector in order to leverage the investment of the United States 
with that of other donor nations. 
(18) Through increased support for microenterprise, espe-
cially credit for the poorest, the United States can continue 
to play a leadership role in the global effort to expand financial 
services and opportunity to 100,000,000 of the poorest families 
on the planet. 
SEC. 103. PURPOSES. 
22 USC 2151f 
The purposes of this title are— 
(1) to make microenterprise development an important ele-
ment of United States foreign economic policy and assistance; 
(2) to provide for the continuation and expansion of the 
commitment of the United States Agency for International 
Development to the development of microenterprise institutions 
as outlined in its 1994 Microenterprise Initiative; 
(3) to support and develop the capacity of United States 
and indigenous nongovernmental organization intermediaries 
to provide credit, savings, training, technical assistance, and 
business development services to microentrepreneurs; 
(4) to emphasize financial services and 
substantially 
increase the amount of assistance devoted to both financial 
services and complementary business development services 
designed to reach the poorest people in developing countries, 
particularly women; and 
114 STAT. 1082 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
(5) to encourage the United States Agency for International 
Development to coordinate microfinance policy, in consultation 
with the Department of the Treasury and the Department 
of State, and to provide global leadership among bilateral and 
multilateral donors in promoting microenterprise for the poorest 
of the poor. 
22USC2151f 
SEC. 104, DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.—^The term "business 
development services" means support for the growth of micro-
enterprises through training, technical assistance, marketing 
assistance, improved production technologies, and other serv-
ices. 
(2) MICROENTERPRISE INSTITUTION.—^The term "microenter-
prise institution" means an institution that provides services, 
including microfinance, training, or business development serv-
ices, for microentrepreneurs. 
(3) MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION.—^The term "microfinance 
institution" means an institution that directly provides, or 
works to expand, the availability of credit, savings, and other 
financial services to microentrepreneurs. 
(4) PRACTITIONER INSTITUTION.—^The term "practitioner 
institution" means any institution that provides services, 
including microfinance, training, or business development serv-
ices, for microentrepreneurs, or provides assistance to micro-
enterprise institutions. 
SEC. 105. MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ASSISTANCE. 
Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
22 use 2152a. 
"SEC. 131. MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ASSISTANCE. 
"(a) FINDINGS AND POLICY.—Congress finds and declares that— 
"(1) the development of microenterprise is a vital factor 
in the stable growth of developing countries and in the develop-
ment of free, open, and equitable international economic sys-
tems; 
"(2) it is therefore in the best interest of the United States 
to assist the development of microenterprises in developing 
countries; and 
"(3) the support of microenterprise can be served by pro-
grams providing credit, savings, training, technical assistance, 
and business development services. 
"(b) AUTHORIZATION.— 
President. 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this part, the President 
is authorized to provide grant assistance for programs to 
increase the availability of credit and other services to micro-
enterprises lacking full access to capital training, technical 
assistance, and business development services, through— 
"(A) grants to microfinance institutions for the purpose 
of expanding the availability of credit, savings, and other 
financial services to microentrepreneurs; 
"(B) grants to microenterprise institutions for the pur-
pose of training, technical assistance, and business develop-
ment services for microenterprises to enable them to make 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1083 
better use of credit, to better manage their enterprises, 
and to increase their income and build their assets; 
"(C) capacity-building for microenterprise institutions 
in order to enable them to better meet the credit and 
training needs of microentrepreneurs; and 
"(D) policy and regulatory programs at the country 
level that improve the environment for microentrepreneurs 
and microenterprise institutions that serve the poor and 
very poor. 
"(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—Assistance authorized under para-
graph (1)(A) and (B) shall be provided through organizations 
that have a capacity to develop and implement microenterprise 
programs, including particularly— 
"(A) United States and indigenous private and vol-
untary organizations; 
"(B) United States and indigenous credit unions and 
cooperative organizations; or 
"(C) other indigenous governmental and nongovern-
mental organizations. 
"(3) TARGETED ASSISTANCE.—In carrying out sustainable 
poverty-focused programs under paragraph (1), 50 percent of 
all microenterprise resources shall be targeted to very poor 
entrepreneurs, defined as those living in the bottom 50 percent 
below the poverty line as established by the national govern-
ment of the country. Specifically, such resources shall be used 
for— 
"(A) direct support of programs under this subsection 
through practitioner institutions that— 
"(i) provide credit and other financial services to 
entrepreneurs who are very poor, with loans in 1995 
United States dollars of— 
"(I) $1,000 or less in the Europe and Eurasia 
region; 
"(II) $400 or less in the Latin America region; 
and 
"(III) $300 or less in the rest of the world; 
and 
"(ii) can cover their costs in a reasonable time 
period; or 
"(B) demand-driven business development programs 
that achieve reasonable cost recovery that are provided 
to clients holding poverty loans (as defined by the regional 
poverty loan limitations in subparagraph (A)(i)), whether 
they are provided by microfinance institutions or by special-
ized business development services providers. 
"(4) SUPPORT FOR CENTRAL MECHANISMS.—^The President 
should continue support for central mechanisms and missions, 
as appropriate, that— 
"(A) provide technical support for field missions; 
"(B) strengthen the institutional development of the 
intermediary organizations described in paragraph (2); 
"(C) share information relating to the provision of 
assistance authorized under paragraph (1) between such 
field missions and intermediary organizations; and 
"(D) support the development of nonprofit global micro-
finance networks, including credit union systems, that— 
114 STAT. 1084 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
"(i) are able to deliver very small loans through 
a significant grassroots infrastructure based on market 
principles; and 
"(ii) act as wholesale intermediaries providing a 
range of services to microfinance retail institutions, 
including financing, technical assistance, capacity-
building, and safety and soundness accreditation. 
"(5) LIMITATION.—Assistance provided under this sub-
section may only be used to support microenterprise programs 
and may not be used to support programs not directly related 
to the purposes described in paragraph (1). 
"(c) MONITORING SYSTEM.—^In order to maximize the sustain-
able development impact of the assistance authorized under sub-
section (b)(1), the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible 
for administering this part shall establish a monitoring system 
that— 
"(1) establishes performance goals for such assistance and 
expresses such goals in an objective and quEintifiable form, 
to the extent feasible; 
"(2) establishes performance indicators to be used in meas-
uring or assessing the achievement of the goals and objectives 
of such assistance; 
"(3) provides a basis for recommendations for adjustments 
to such assistance to enhance the sustainable development 
impact of such assistance, particularly the impact of such assist-
ance on the very poor, particularly poor women; £ind 
"(4) provides a basis for recommendations for adjustments 
to measures for reaching the poorest of the poor, including 
proposed legislation containing amendments to enhance the 
sustainable development impact of such assistance, as described 
in paragraph (3). 
"(d) LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE.—Of the funds made available under 
this part, the FREEDOM Support Act, and the Support for East 
European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989, including local currencies 
derived from such funds, there are authorized to be available 
$155,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 and 2002, to carry 
out this section. 
"(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
"(1) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.—^The term 'business 
development services' means support for the growth of micro-
enterprises through training, technical assistance, marketing 
assistance, improved production technologies, and other serv-
ices. 
"(2) MICROENTERPRISE INSTITUTION.—^The term 'microenter-
prise institution' means an institution that provides services, 
including microfinance, training, or business development serv-
ices, for microentrepreneurs. 
"(3) MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION.—The term 'microfinance 
institution' means an institution that directly provides, or works 
to expand, the availability of credit, savings, and other financial 
services to microentrepreneurs. 
"(4) PRACTITIONER INSTITUTION.—The term 'practitioner 
institution' means any institution that provides services, 
including microfinance, training, or business development serv-
ices, for microentrepreneurs, or provides assistance to micro-
enterprise institutions.". 
PUBLIC LAW 10&-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1085 
SEC. 106. MICRO- AND SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CREDITS. 
Section 108 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
215If) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 108. MICRO- AND SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CREDITS. 
"(a) FINDINGS AND POLICY.—Congress finds and declares that— 
"(1) the development of micro- and small enterprises is 
a vital factor in the stable growth of developing countries 
and in the development and stability of a free, open, and 
equitable international economic system; and 
"(2) it is, therefore, in the best interests of the United 
States to assist the development of the enterprises of the poor 
in developing countries and to engage the United States private 
sector in that process. 
"(b) PROGRAM.—^To carry out the policy set forth in subsection President, 
(a), the President is authorized to provide assistance to increase 
the availability of credit to micro- and small enterprises lacking 
full access to credit, including through— 
"(1) loans and guarantees to credit institutions for the 
purpose of expanding the availability of credit to micro- and 
small enterprises; 
"(2) training programs for lenders in order to enable them 
to better meet the credit needs of microentrepreneurs; and 
"(3) training programs for microentrepreneurs in order to 
enable them to make better use of credit and to better manage 
their enterprises. 
"(c) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.—^The Administrator of the agency 
primarily responsible for administering this part shall establish 
criteria for determining which credit institutions described in sub-
section (b)(1) are eligible to carry out activities, with respect to 
micro- and small enterprises, assisted under this section. Such 
criteria may include the following: 
"(1) The extent to which the recipients of credit from the 
entity do not have access to the local formal financial sector. 
"(2) The extent to which the recipients of credit from the 
entity are among the poorest people in the country. 
"(3) The extent to which the entity is oriented toward 
working directly with poor women. 
"(4) The extent to which the entity recovers its cost of 
lending. 
"(5) The extent to which the entity implements a plan 
to become financially sustainable. 
"(d) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT.—Assistance provided under 
this section may only be used to support micro- and small enterprise 
programs and may not be used to support programs not directly 
related to the purposes described in subsection (b). 
"(e) PROCUREMENT PROVISION.—^Assistance may be provided 
under this section without regard to section 604(a). 
"(f) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts authorized to be avail-
able to carry out section 131, there are authorized to be avail-
able $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002 to carry 
out this section. 
"(2) COVERAGE OF SUBSIDY COSTS.—Amounts authorized 
to be available under paragraph (1) shall be made available 
to cover the subsidy cost, as defined in section 502(5) of the 
114 STAT. 1086 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, for activities under this 
section.". 
SEC. 107. UNITED STATES MICROFINANCE LOAN FACILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), as amended by section 105 
of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
22 use 2152b. 
"SEC. 132. UNITED STATES MICROFINANCE LOAN FACILITY. 
"(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—^The Administrator is authorized to 
establish a United States Microfinance Loan Facility (in this section 
referred to as the 'Facility') to pool and manage the risk from 
natural disasters, war or civil conflict, national financial crisis, 
or short-term financisd movements that threaten the long-term 
development of United States-supported microfinance institutions. 
"(b) DISBURSEMENTS.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Administrator shall make disburse-
ments from the Facility to United States-supported micro-
finance institutions to prevent the bankruptcy of such institu-
tions caused by— 
"(A) natural disasters; 
"(B) national wars or civil conflict; or 
"(C) national financial crisis or other short-term finan-
cial movements that threaten the long-term development 
of United States-supported microfinance institutions. 
"(2) FORM OF ASSISTANCE.—^Assistance under this section 
shall be in the form of loans or loan guarantees for microfinance 
institutions that demonstrate the capacity to resume self-sus-
tained operations within a reasonable time period. 
"(3) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES.—^During 
each of the fiscal years 2001 and 2002, funds may not be 
made available from the Facility until 15 days after notification 
of the proposed availability of the funds has been provided 
to the congressional committees specified in section 634A in 
accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming 
notifications under that section. 
"(c) GENERAL PROVISIONS.— 
"(1) POLICY PROVISIONS.—In providing the credit assistance 
authorized by this section, the Administrator should apply, 
as appropriate, the policy provisions in this part that are 
applicable to development assistance activities. 
"(2) DEFAULT AND PROCUREMENT PROVISIONS.— 
"(A) DEFAULT PROVISION.—^The provisions of section 
620(q), or any comparable provision of law, shall not be 
construed to prohibit assistance to a country in the event 
that a private sector recipient of assistance furnished under 
this section is in default in its payment to the United 
States for the period specified in such section. 
"(B) PROCUREMENT PROVISION.—Assistance may be pro-
vided under this section without regard to section 604(a). 
"(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CREDIT ASSISTANCE.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—Credit assistance provided under 
this section shall be offered on such terms and conditions, 
including fees charged, as the Administrator may deter-
mine. 
"(B) 
LIMITATION 
ON 
PRINCIPAL 
AMOUNT 
OF 
FINANCING.—^The principal amount of loans made or 
PUBLIC LAW 10&-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1087 
guaranteed under this section in any fiscal year, with 
respect to any single event, may not exceed $30,000,000. 
"(C) EXCEPTION.—^No pa)mient may be made under 
any guarantee issued under this section for any loss arising 
out of fraud or misrepresentation for which the party 
seeking pa3mient is responsible. 
"(4) FULL FAITH AND CREDIT.—^All guarantees issued under 
this section shall constitute obligations, in accordance with 
the terms of such guarantees, of the United States of America, 
and the full faith and credit of the United States of America 
is hereby pledged for the full payment and performance of 
such obligations to the extent of the guarsmtee. 
"(d) FUNDING.— 
"(1) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—Of the amounts made avail-
able to carry out this part for the fiscal year 2001, up to 
$5,000,000 may be made available for— 
"(A) the subsidy cost, as defined in section 502(5) of 
the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, to carry out this 
section; and 
"(B) the administrative costs to carry out this section. 
"(2) RELATION TO OTHER FUNDING.—^Amounts made avail-
able under paragraph (1) are in addition to amounts available 
under any other provision of law to carry out this section. 
"(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
"(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—^The term 'Administrator' means the 
Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for admin-
istering this part. 
"(2) APPROPRL^TE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 
'appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee 
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
International Relations of the House of Representatives. 
"(3) UNITED STATES-SUPPORTED 
MICROFINANCE 
INSTITU-
TION.—^The term United States-supported microfinance institu-
tion' means a financial intermediary that has received funds 
made available under part I of this Act for fiscal year 1980 
or any subsequent fiscal year.". 
(b) REPORT.—^Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee 
on International Relations of the House of Representatives a report 
on the policies, rules, and regulations of the United States Micro-
finance Loan Facility established under section 132 of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961, as added by subsection (a). 
SEC. 108. REPORT RELATING TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF MICRO-
ENTERPRISE INSTITUTIONS. 
(a) REPORT.—^Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the most 
cost-effective 
methods and measurements for increasing the access of poor people 
overseas to credit, other financial services, and related training. 
(b) CONTENTS.—^The report described in subsection (a)— 
(1) shall include how the President, in consultation with 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the 
Treasury, will develop a comprehensive strategy for advancing 
Deadline. 
22 use 2152b 
note. 
Deadline. 
114 STAT. 1088 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
the global microenterprise sector in a way that maintains 
market principles while ensuring that the very poor overseas, 
particularly women, obtain access to financial services overseas; 
(2) shall provide guidelines and recommendations for— 
(A) instruments to assist microenterprise networks to 
develop multi-country and regional microlending programs; 
(B) technical assistance to foreign governments, foreign 
central banks, and regulatory entities to improve the policy 
environment 
for 
microfinance 
institutions, 
and 
to 
strengthen the capacity of supervisory bodies to supervise 
microfinance institutions; 
(C) the potential for Federal chartering of United 
States-based international microfinance network institu-
tions, including proposed legislation; 
(D) instruments to increase investor confidence in 
microfinance institutions which would strengthen the long-
term financial position of the microfinance institutions and 
attract capital from private sector entities and individuals, 
such as a rating system for microfinance institutions and 
local credit bureaus; 
(E) £in agenda for integrating microfinance into United 
States foreign policy initiatives seeking to develop and 
strengthen the global finance sector; and 
(F) innovative instruments to attract funds from the 
capital markets, such as instruments for leveraging funds 
from the local commercial banking sector, and 
the 
securitization of microloan portfolios; and 
(3) shall include a section that assesses the need for a 
microenterprise accelerated growth fund and that includes— 
(A) a description of the benefits of such a fund; 
(B) an identification of which microenterprise institu-
tions might become eligible for assistance from such fund; 
(C) a description of how such a fund could be adminis-
tered; 
(D) a recommendation on which agency or agencies 
of the United States Grovemment should administer the 
fund and within which such agency the fund should be 
located; and 
(E) a recommendation on how soon it might be nec-
essary to establish such a fund in order to provide the 
support necessary for microenterprise institutions involved 
in microenterprise development. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term "appropriate congressional committees" means 
the Committee on International Relations of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. 
SEC. 109. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOP-
MENT AS GLOBAL LEADER AND COORDINATOR OF 
BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL 
MICROENTERPRISE 
ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES. 
(a) FINDINGS AND POLICY.—Congress finds and declares that— 
(1) the United States can provide leadership to other 
bilateral and multilateral development agencies as such agen-
cies expand their support to the microenterprise sector; and 
(2) the United States should seek to improve coordination 
among G
—
7 countries in the support of the microenterprise 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1089 
sector in order to leverage the investment of the United States 
with that of other donor nations. 
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress 
that— 
(1) the Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development and the Secretary of State should seek 
to support and strengthen the effectiveness of microfinance 
activities in United Nations agencies, such as the United 
Nations Development Program (UNDP), which have provided 
key leadership in developing the microenterprise sector; and 
(2) the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct each 
United States Executive Director of the multilateral develop-
ment banks (MDBs) to advocate the development of a coherent 
and coordinated strategy to support the microenterprise sector 
and an increase of multilateral resource flows for the purposes 
of building microenterprise retail and wholesale intermediaries. 
SEC. 110. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON CONSIDERATION OF MEXICO 
AS A KEY PRIORITY IN MICROENTERPRISE FUNDING 
ALLOCATIONS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) An estimated 45,000,000 of Mexico's 100,000,000 popu-
lation currently lives below the poverty line, accounting for 
20 percent of all poor in Latin America. 
(2) Mexico cannot create enough salaried jobs to absorb 
new workers entering the labor force. 
(3) While many poor families depend on microenterprise 
initiatives to generate a livelihood, the United States Agency 
for International Development currently has two microcredit 
projects in Mexico, receiving less than 1 percent of overall 
microenterprise funding in Latin America and the Caribbean 
during the last decade. 
(4) Mexico's microenterprise activity has been constrained 
because its financial institutions cannot expand financial serv-
ices to a larger clientele due to a lack of capital, inefficient 
financial and administrative management, and a lack of institu-
tional support for microfinance institutions' particular needs. 
(5) Mexican nongovernmental 
organizations, such as 
Compartamos, have demonstrated competence in developing 
local microfinance programs. 
(6) On July 2, 2000, Vicente Fox Quesada of the Alliance 
for Change was elected President of the United Mexican States. 
(7) 
The President-elect 
of 
Mexico 
has 
identified 
entrepreneurship and the start-up of new microcredit institu-
tions as key economic priorities. 
(8) Microenterprise and entrepreneurial initiatives have 
proven to be successful components of free market development 
and economic stability. 
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress 
that— 
(1) providing Mexico's poor with economic opportunity and 
microfinance services is fundamental to Mexico's economic 
development; 
(2) microenterprise can have a positive impact on Mexico's 
free market development; and 
114 STAT. 1090 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
International 
Anti-Corruption 
and Good 
Governance Act 
of 2000. 
(3) the United States Agency for International Development 
should consider Mexico as a key priority in its microenterprise 
funding allocations. 
TITLE II—INTERNATIONAL ANTI-COR-
RUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE 
ACT OF 2000 
22 u s e 2151 
note. 
22 u s e 2152c 
note. 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the 
and Good Gkivernance Act of 2000". 
SEC, 202. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
International Anti-Corruption 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Widespread corruption endangers the stability and secu-
rity of societies, undermines democracy, and jeopardizes the 
social, poUtical, and economic development of a society. 
(2) Corruption facilitates criminal activities, such as money 
laundering, hinders economic development, inflates the costs 
of doing business, and undermines the legitimacy of the govern-
ment £ind public trust. 
(3) In January 1997 the United Nations (Jeneral Assembly 
adopted a resolution urging member states to carefully consider 
the problems posed by the international aspects of corrupt 
practices and to study appropriate legislative and regulatory 
measures to ensure the transparency and integrity of financial 
systems. 
(4) The United States was the first country to criminalize 
international bribery through the enactment of the Foreign 
Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and United States leadership 
was instrumental in the passage of the Organization for Eco-
nomic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Convention on 
Combatting Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International 
Business Transactions. 
(5) The Vice President, at the Global Forum on Fighting 
Corruption in 1999, declared corruption to be a direct threat 
to the rule of law and the Secretary of State declared corruption 
to be a matter of profound political and social consequence 
for our efforts to strengthen democratic governments. 
(6) The Secretary of State, at the Inter-American Develop-
ment Bank's annual meeting in March 2000, declared that 
despite certain economic achievements, democracy is being 
threatened as citizens grow weary of the corruption and favor-
itism of their official institutions and that efforts must be 
made to improve governance if respect for democratic institu-
tions is to be regained. 
(7) In May 1996 the Organization of American States (OAS) 
adopted the Inter-Atnerican Convention Against Corruption 
requiring countries to provide various forms of international 
cooperation and assistance to facilitate the prevention, inves-
tigation, and prosecution of acts of corruption. 
(8) Independent media, committed to fighting corruption 
and trained in investigative journalism techniques, can both 
educate the public on the costs of corruption and act as a 
deterrent against corrupt officials. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1091 
(9) Competent and independent judiciary, founded on a 
merit-based selection process and trained to enforce contracts 
and protect property rights, is critical for creating a predictable 
and consistent environment for transparency in legal proce-
dures. 
(10) Independent and accountable legislatures, responsive 
political parties, and transparent electoral processes, in conjunc-
tion with professional, accountable, and transparent financial 
management and procurement policies and procedures, are 
essential to the promotion of good governance and to the combat 
of corruption. 
(11) Transparent business frameworks, including modem 
commercial codes and intellectual property rights, are vitsd 
to enhancing economic growth and decreasing corruption at 
all levels of society. 
(12) The United States should attempt to improve account-
ability in foreign countries, including by— 
(A) promoting transparency and accountability through 
support for independent media, promoting financial disclo-
sure by public officials, political parties, and candidates 
for public office, open budgeting processes, adequate and 
effective 
internal 
control 
systems, 
suitable 
financial 
management 
systems, and 
financial 
and 
compliance 
reporting; 
(B) supporting the establishment of audit offices, 
inspectors general offices, third party monitoring of govern-
ment procurement processes, and anti-corruption agencies; 
(C) promoting responsive, transparent, and accountable 
legislatures that ensure legislative oversight and whistle-
blower protection; 
(D) promoting judicial reforms that criminalize corrup-
tion and promoting law enforcement that prosecutes corrup-
tion; 
(E) fostering business practices that promote trans-
parent, ethical, and competitive behavior in the private 
sector through the development of an effective legal frame-
work for commerce, including anti-bribery laws, commercial 
codes that incorporate international standards for business 
practices, and protection of intellectual property rights; 
and 
(F) promoting free and fair national, state, and local 
elections. 
(b) PURPOSE.—^The purpose of this title is to ensure that United 
States assistance programs promote good governance by assisting 
other countries to combat corruption throughout society and to 
improve transparency and accountability at all levels of government 
and throughout the private sector. 
SEC. 203. DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE POUCY. 
(a) GENERAL POLICY,—Section 101(a) of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151(a)) is amended in the fifth sentence— 
(1) by striking "four" and inserting "five"; 
(2) by striking "and" at the end of paragraph (3); 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting "; and"; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
114 STAT. 1092 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
"(5) the promotion of good governance through combating 
corruption and improving trgmsparency and accountability.". 
(b) DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE POLICY.—Section 102(b) of the 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151-l(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking "and" at the end of subparagraph (E); 
(B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting "; and"; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
"(G) progress in combating corruption and improving 
transparency and accountability in the public and private 
sector."; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(17) Economic reform and development of effective institu-
tions of democratic governance are mutually reinforcing. The 
successful transition of a developing country is dependent upon 
the quality of its economic and governance institutions. Rule 
of law, mechanisms of accountability and transparency, security 
of person, property, and investments, are but a few of the 
critical governance and economic reforms that underpin the 
sustainability of broad-based economic growth. Programs in 
support of such reforms strengthen the capacity of people to 
hold their governments accountable and to create economic 
opportunity.". 
SEC. 204. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. 
Section 129(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2151aa(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(3) EMPHASIS ON ANTI-CORRUPTION.—Such technical assist-
ance shall include elements designed to combat anti-competi-
tive, unethical, and corrupt activities, including protection 
against actions that may distort or inhibit transparency in 
market mechanisms and, to the extent applicable, privatization 
procedures.". 
SEC. 
2
0
5
. 
AUTHORIZATION 
OF 
GOOD 
GOVERNANCE 
PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), as amended by sections 
105 and 107, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
22 use 2152c. 
"SEC. 133. PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE GOOD GOVERNANCE. 
"(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAMS.— 
President. 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The President is authorized to establish 
programs that combat corruption, improve transparency and 
accountability, and promote other forms of good governance 
in countries described in paragraph (2). 
"(2) COUNTRIES DESCRIBED.—A country described in this 
paragraph is a country that is eligible to receive assistance 
under this part (including chapter 4 of part II of this Act) 
or the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 
1989. 
"(3) PRIORITY.—^In canning out paragraph (1), the President 
shall give priority to establishing programs in countries that 
received a significant amount of United States foreign assist-
ance for the prior fiscal year, or in which the United States 
has a significant economic interest, and that continue to have 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1093 
the most persistent problems with public and private corrup-
tion. In determining which countries have the most persistent 
problems with public and private corruption under the pre-
ceding sentence, the President shall take into account criteria 
such as the Transparency International Annual Corruption 
Perceptions Index, standards and codes set forth by the Inter-
national Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the 
International Monetary Fund, and other relevant criteria. 
"(4) RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—^Assistance provided for countries 
under programs established pursuant to paragraph (1) may 
be made available notwithstanding any other provision of 
law that restricts assistance to foreign countries. Assistance 
provided under a program established pursuant to para-
graph (1) for a country that would otherwise be restricted 
from receiving such assistance but for the preceding sen-
tence may not be provided directly to the government of 
the country. 
"(B) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph (A) does not apply 
with respect to— 
"(i) section 620A of this Act or any comparable 
provision of law prohibiting assistance to countries that 
support international terrorism; or 
"(ii) section 907 of the Freedom for Russia and 
Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets 
Support Act of 1992. 
"(b) SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.—^The programs estab-
lished pursuant to subsection (a) shall include, to the extent appro-
priate, projects and activities that— 
"(1) support responsible independent media to promote 
oversight of public and private institutions; 
"(2) implement financial disclosure among public officials, 
political parties, and candidates for public office, open budgeting 
processes, and transparent financial management systems; 
"(3) support the establishment of audit offices, inspectors 
general offices, third party monitoring of government procure-
ment processes, and anti-corruption agencies; 
"(4) promote responsive, transparent, and accountable 
legislatures and local governments that ensure legislative and 
local oversight and whistle-blower protection; 
"(5) promote legal and judicial reforms that criminalize 
corruption and law enforcement reforms and development that 
encourage prosecutions of criminal corruption; 
"(6) assist in the development of a legal framework for 
commercial transactions that fosters business practices that 
promote transparent, ethical, and competitive behavior in the 
economic sector, such as commercial codes that incorporate 
international standards and protection of intellectual property 
rights; 
"(7) promote free and fair national, state, and local elec-
tions; 
"(8) foster public participation in the legislative process 
and public access to government information; and 
"(9) engage civil society in the fight against corruption. 
"(c) 
CONDUCT OF PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES.—^Projects 
and 
activities under the programs established pursuant to subsection 
114 STAT. 1094 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
(a) may include, among other things, training and technical assist-
ance (including drafting of anti-corruption, privatization, and 
competitive statutory and administrative codes), drafting of anti-
corruption, privatization, and competitive statutory and administra-
tive codes, support for independent media and publications, 
financing of the program and operating costs of nongovernmental 
organizations that carry out such projects or activities, and assist-
ance for travel of individuals to the IJnited States and other coun-
tries for such projects and activities. 
"(d) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary of State, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development, shall pre-
pare and transmit to the Committee on International Relations 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate an annual report 
on— 
"(A) projects and activities carried out under programs 
established under subsection (a) for the prior year in pri-
ority countries identified pursuant to subsection (a)(3); and 
"(B) projects and activities carried out under programs 
to combat corruption, improve transparency and account-
ability, and promote other forms of good governance estab-
lished under other provisions of law for the prior year 
in such countries. 
"(2) REQUIRED CONTENTS.—^The report required by para-
graph (1) shall contain the following information with respect 
to each country described in paragraph (1): 
"(A) A description of all United States Government-
funded programs and initiatives to combat corruption and 
improve transparency and accountability in the country. 
"(B) A description of United States diplomatic efforts 
to combat corruption and improve transparency 
and 
accountability in the country. 
"(C) An analysis of major actions taken by the govern-
ment of the country to combat corruption and improve 
transparency and accountability in the country. 
"(e) FUNDING.—^Amounts made available to carry out the other 
provisions of this part (including chapter 4 of part II of this Act) 
and the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 
1989 shall be made available to carry out this section.". 
22 use 2152c 
(b) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL REPORT.—The initial annual report 
note. 
required by section 133(d)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 
as added by subsection (a), shall be transmitted not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
International 
T I T L E I I I — I N T E R N A T I O N A L 
A C A D E M I C 
oS^X^ty Act 
O P P O R T U N I T Y A C T O F 
2 0 0 0 
of 2000. 
22 use 2462 
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "International Academic Oppor-
tunity Act of 2000". 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1095 
SEC. 302. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. 
22 USC 2462 
It is the purpose of this title to establish an undergraduate 
grant program for students of limited financial means from the 
United States to enable such students to study abroad. Such foreign 
study is intended to broaden the outlook and better prepare such 
students of demonstrated financial need to assume significsint roles 
in the increasingly global economy. 
SEC. 303. ESTABUSHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN STUDY 
22 USC 2462 and 
BY AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS OF LIMITED FINAN- 
note. 
CIAL MEANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions and under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and 
Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the Secretary of State shall establish 
and carry out a program in each fiscal year to award grants of 
up to $5,000, to individuals who meet the requirements of subsection 
(b), toward the cost of up to one academic year of undergraduate 
study abroad. Grants under this Act shall be known as the "Ben-
jamin A. Oilman International Scholarships". 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—^An individual referred to in subsection (a) 
is an individual who— 
(1) is a student in good standing at an institution of higher 
education in the United States (as defined in section 101(a) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965); 
(2) has been accepted for up to one academic year of study 
on a program of study abroad approved for credit by the stu-
dent's home institution; 
(3) is receiving any need-based student assistance under 
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and 
(4) is a citizen or national of the United States. 
(c) APPLICATION AND SELECTION.— 
(1) Grant application and selection shall be carried out 
through accredited institutions of higher education in the 
United States or a combination of such institutions under such 
procedures as are established by the Secretary of State. 
(2) In considering applications for grants under this 
section— 
(A) consideration of financial need shall include the 
increased costs of study abroad; and 
(B) priority consideration shall be given to applicants 
who are receiving Federal Pell Grants under title IV of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965. 
SEC. 304. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
22 USC 2462 
The Secretary of State shall report annually to the Congress 
concerning the grant program established under this title. Each 
such report shall include the following information for the preceding 
year: 
(1) The number of participants. 
(2) The institutions of higher education in the United States 
that participants attended. 
(3) The institutions of higher education outside the United 
States participants attended during their study abroad. 
(4) The areas of study of participants. 
SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
22 USC 2462 
There are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each 
fiscal year to carry out this title. 
114 STAT. 1096 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
22 use 2462 
SEC. 306. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
°*'^* 
This title shall take effect October 1, 2000. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS 
Support for 
SEC. 401. SUPPORT FOR OVERSEAS COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT ACT. 
Coo^r^ive 
(^) SHORT TiTLE.—^This section may be cited as the "Support 
Development Act. for Overseas Cooperative Development Act". 
22 use 2151 
(b) FINDINGS.—^The Congress makes the following findings: 
22*USC21511 
^^^ ^^ ^
® ^^ *^® mutual economic interest of the United 
note. 
States and peoples in developing and transitional countries 
to promote cooperatives and credit unions. 
(2) Self-help institutions, including cooperatives and credit 
unions, provide enhanced opportunities for people to participate 
directly in democratic decision-making for their economic and 
social benefit through ownership and control of business enter-
prises and through the mobilization of local capitsJ and savings 
and such organizations should be fully utilized in fostering 
free market principles and the adoption of self-help approaches 
to development. 
(3) The United States seeks to encourage broad-based eco-
nomic and social development by creating and supporting— 
(A) agricultural cooperatives that provide a means to 
lift low income farmers and rural people out of poverty 
and to better integrate them into national economies; 
(B) credit union networks that serve people of limited 
means through safe savings and by extending credit to 
families and microenterprises; 
(C) electric and telephone cooperatives that provide 
rural customers with power and telecommunications serv-
ices essential to economic development; 
(D) housing and community-based cooperatives that 
provide low income shelter and work opportunities for the 
urban poor; and 
(E) mutual and cooperative insurance companies that 
provide risk protection for life and property to under-served 
populations often through group policies. 
(c) GENERAL PROVISIONS.— 
22 use 21511 
(1) DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.—^The Congress supports the 
note. 
development and expansion of economic assistance programs 
that fully utilize cooperatives and credit unions, particularly 
those programs committed to— 
(A) international cooperative principles, democratic 
governance and involvement of women and ethnic minori-
ties for economic and social development; 
(B) self-help mobilization of member savings and equity 
and retention of profits in the community, except for those 
programs that are dependent on donor financing; 
(C) market-oriented and value-added activities with 
the potential to reach large numbers of low income people 
and help them enter into the mainstream economy; 
(D) strengthening the participation of rural and urban 
poor to contribute to their country's economic development; 
and 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1097 
(E) utilization of technical assistance and training to 
better serve the member-owners. 
(2) DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.—Section 111 of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151i) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: "In meeting the requirement of the 
preceding sentence, specific priority shall be given to the fol-
lowing: 
"(1) AGRICULTURE.—^Technical assistance to low income 
farmers who form and develop member-owned cooperatives for 
farm supplies, marketing and value-added processing. 
"(2) FINANCIAL SYSTEMS.—The promotion of national credit 
union systems through credit union-to-credit union technical 
assistance that strengthens the ability of low income people 
and micro-entrepreneurs to save and to have access to credit 
for their own economic advancement. 
"(3) INFRASTRUCTURE.—^The support of rural electric and 
telecommunication cooperatives for access for rural people and 
villages that lack reliable electric and telecommunications serv-
ices. 
"(4) HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.—^The promotion 
of community-based cooperatives which provide employment 
opportunities and important services such as health clinics, 
self-help shelter, environmental improvements, group-owned 
businesses, and other activities.". 
(d) REPORT.—^Not later than 6 months after the date of the Deadline, 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States 22USC2l5ii 
Agency for International Development, in consultation with the °°*** 
heads of other appropriate agencies, shall prepare and submit to 
Congress a report on the implementation of section 111 of the 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 21511), as amended 
by subsection (c). 
SEC. 402. FUNDmG OF CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVI-
TIES OF USAID. 
(a) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR CERTAIN 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
ACTIVITIES.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the 
fiscal year 2001 to carry out chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.; relating to develop-
ment assistance), there is authorized to be available at least 
$60,200,000 to carry out activities of the type carried out by the 
Global Environment Center of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development during fiscal year 2000. 
(b) ALLOCATION FOR WATER AND COASTAL RESOURCES.—Of the 
amounts made available under subsection (a), at least $2,500,000 
shall be available for water and coastal resources activities under 
the natural resources management function specified in that sub-
section. 
SEC. 403. PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF 10 USC 402 note. 
HUMANITARLAN ASSISTANCE ABROAD BY THE DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) PRIORITY FOR DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE.—In processing 
applications for the transportation of humanitarian assistance 
abroad under section 402 of title 10, United States Code, the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development shall afford a priority to applications for the transpor-
tation of disaster relief assistance. 
114 STAT. 1098 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
(b) MODIFICATION OF APPLICATIONS.—^The Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development shall take 
all possible actions to assist applicants for the transportation of 
humanitarian assistance abroad under such section 402 in modi-
fying or completing applications submitted under such section in 
order to meet applicable requirements under such section. The 
actions shall include efforts to contact such applicants for purposes 
of the modification or completion of such applications. 
SEC. 404. WORKING CAPITAL FXFND. 
Section 635 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2395) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
Establishment. 
"(m)(l) There is established a working capital fund (in this 
subsection referred to as the 'fund') for the United States Agency 
for International Development (in this subsection referred to as 
the 'Agency') which shall be available without fiscal year limitation 
for the expenses of personal and nonpersonal services, equipment, 
and supplies for— 
"(A) International Cooperative Administrative 
Support 
Services; and 
"(B) rebates from the use of United States Government 
credit cards. 
"(2) The capital of the fund shall consist of— 
"(A) the fair and reasonable value of such supplies, equip-
ment, and other assets pertaining to the functions of the fund 
as the Administrator determines, 
"(B) rebates from the use of United States Government 
credit cards, and 
"(C) any appropriations made available for the purpose 
of providing capital, 
minus related liabilities. 
"(3) The fund shall be reimbursed or credited with advance 
payments for services, equipment, or supplies provided from the 
fund from applicable appropriations and funds of the Agency, other 
Federal agencies and other sources authorized by section 607 at 
rates that will recover total expenses of operation, including accrual 
of annual leave and depreciation. Receipts from the disposal of, 
or pa3nnents for the loss or damage to, property held in the fund, 
rebates, reimbursements, refunds and other credits applicable to 
the operation of the fund may be deposited in the fund. 
"(4) At the close of each fiscal year the Administrator of the 
Agency shall transfer out of the fund to the miscellaneous receipts 
account of the Treasury of the United States such amounts as 
the Administrator determines to be in excess of the needs of the 
fund. 
"(5) The fund may be charged with the current value of supplies 
and equipment returned to the working capitsd of the fund by 
a post, activity, or agency, and the proceeds shall he credited 
to current applicable appropriations.". 
SEC. 405. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND 
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES MISSION TO 
THE UNITED NATIONS PROVIDED LIVING QUARTERS IN 
NEW YORK 
Section 9(2) of the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 
(22 U.S.C. 287e-l(2)) is amended by striking "18" and inserting 
"30". 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
114 STAT. 1099 
SEC. 406. AVAILABILITY OF VOA AND RADIO MARTI MULTILINGUAL 
COMPUTER READABLE TEXT AND VOICE RECORDINGS. 
Section 1(b) of Public Law 104-269 (110 Stat. 3300) is amended 
by striking "5 years" and inserting "10 years". 
SEC. 407. AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN MATERIALS OF THE VOICE OF 
AMERICA. 
(a) AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of this section, 
the Broadcasting Board of Grovemors (in this section referred 
to as the "Board") is authorized to make available to the 
Institute for Media Development (in this section referred to 
as the "Institute"), at the request of the Institute, previously 
broadcast audio and video materials produced by the Africa 
Division of the Voice of America. 
(2) DEPOSIT OF MATERIALS.—^Upon the request of 
the 
Institute and the approval of the Board, materials made avail-
able under paragraph (1) may be deposited with the University 
of California, Los Angeles, or such other appropriate institution 
of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) that is approved 
by the Board for such purpose. 
(3) SUPERSEDES EXISTING LAW.—^Materials made available 
under paragraph (1) may be provided notwithstanding section 
501 of the United States Information and Educational Exchange 
Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461) and section 208 of the Foreign 
Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 (22 
U.S.C. 1461-la). 
(b) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) 
AUTHORIZED PURPOSES.—^Materials made 
available 
under this section shall be used only for academic and research 
purposes and may not be used for public or commercial broad-
cast purposes. 
(2) PRIOR AGREEMENT REQUIRED.—^Before making available 
materials under subsection (a)(1), the Board shall enter into 
an agreement with the Institute providing for— 
(A) reimbursement of the Board for any expenses 
involved in making such materials available; 
(B) the establishment of guidelines by the Institute 
for the archiving and use of the materials to ensure that 
copyrighted works contained in those materials will not 
be used in a manner that would violate the copyright 
laws of the United States (including intemationed copyright 
conventions to which the United States is a party); 
(C) the indemnification of the United States by the 
Institute in the event that any use of the materials results 
in violation of the copyright laws of the United States 
(including international copyright conventions to which the 
United States is a party); 
(D) the authority of the Board to terminate the agree-
ment if the provisions of paragraph (1) are violated; and 
(E) any other terms and conditions relating to the 
materials that the Board considers appropriate. 
(c) CREDITING OF REIMBURSEMENTS TO BOARD APPROPRIATIONS 
ACCOUNT.—^Any reimbursement of the Board under subsection (b) 
shall be deposited as an offsetting collection to the currently 
applicable appropriation account of the Board. 
114 STAT. 1100 
PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 
(d) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority provided under 
this section shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Paul D. CoverdeU 
SEC. 408. PAUL D. COVERDELL FELLOWS PROGRAM ACT OF 2000. 
Act oFlooG.^^^™ 
(21) SHORT TITLE.—^This section may be cited as the "Paul D. 
22 use 2517 
CoverdeU Fellows Program Act of 2000". 
note. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Paul D. CoverdeU was elected to the George State 
Senate in 1970 and later became Minority Leader of the Georgia 
State Senate, a post he held for 15 years. 
(2) Paul D. CoverdeU served with distinction as the 11th 
Director of the Peace Corps from 1989 to 1991, where he 
promoted a fellowship program that was composed of returning 
Peace Corps volunteers who agreed to work in underserved 
American communities while they pursued educational degrees. 
(3) Paul D. CoverdeU served in the United States Senate 
from the State of Georgia from 1993 until his sudden death 
on July 18, 2000. 
(4) Senator Paul D. CoverdeU was beloved by his colleagues 
for his civility, bipartisan efforts, and his dedication to public 
service. 
(c) DESIGNATION OF PAUL D . COVERDELL FELLOWS PROGRAM.— 
Effective date. 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Effective on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the program under section 18 of the Peace Corps 
Act (22 U.S.C. 2517) referred to before such date as the "Peace 
Corps Fellows/USA Program" is redesignated as the "Paul D. 
Coverdell Fellows Program". 
(2) REFERENCES.—^Any reference before the date of the 
enactment of this Act in any law, regulation, order, document, 
record, or other paper of the United States to the Peace Corps 
Fellows/USA Program shall, on and after such date, be consid-
ered to refer to the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program. 
Approved October 17, 2000. 
L E G I S L A T I V E HISTORY—H.R. 1143 (S. 2844): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-82 (Comm. on International Relations). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-335 accompanying S. 2844 (Comm. on Foreign Rela-
tions). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 145 (1999): Apr. 13, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 146 (2000): Oct. 3, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Oct. 5, House conciured in Senate amendment. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTL\L DOCUMENTS, Vol. 36 (2000): 
Oct. 17, Presidential statement.