A joint resolution to provide assistance and support for peace, democracy and reconciliation in Central America.
PL 100-276 (H.J.Res.523), enacted 04/01/1988

102 STAT. 62 
PUBLIC LAW 100-276—APR. 1, 1988 
Public Law 100-276 
100th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Apr. 1, 1988 
[H.J. Res. 523] 
Nicaragua. 
Defense and 
national 
security. 
President of U.S. 
To provide assistance and support for peace, democracy, and reconciliation in 
Central America. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled. 
SECTION 1. GENERAL POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States 
to advance peace and democracy in Central America, and to pre-
serve and protect security interests in the region. Pursuant to that 
policy, it is the purpose of this joint resolution to assist in bringing 
peace and democracy to Central America, in a manner compatible 
with the Guatemala Peace Accord of August 7, 1987, the Declaration 
of the Presidents of the Central American Nations at San Jose, 
Costa Rica on January 16, 1988, the Agreement Between the 
Government of Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan Resistance signed 
March 23, 1988 at Sapoa, Nicaragua (hereinafter referred to as the 
"Sapoa Agreement") and consistent with the national security 
interests of the United States. 
SEC. 2. CONSISTENCY WITH SAPOA AGREEMENT.—The assistance 
and support for which this joint resolution provides shall be 
administered consistent with the Sapoa Agreement. No authority 
contained in this joint resolution is intended to be exercised in any 
manner that might be determined by the Verification Commission 
established by the Sapoa Agreement to be inconsistent with that 
Agreement or any subsequent agreement between the Government 
of Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan democratic resistance. 
SEC. 3, PURPOSE OF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE NICARAGUAN 
DEMOCRATIC RESISTANCE.—(a) CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.—It is 
the 
intention of Congress in providing additional assistance to the Nica-
raguan democratic resistance to reinforce the Central American 
peace process by supporting negotiations leading to a permanent 
negotiated ceasefire agreement. Such an agreement is seen by the 
Congress as an essential step towards the establishment of peace 
and democracy in Nicaragua. The Congress provides assistance 
under this section with the understanding and strong expectation 
that the Government of Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan democratic 
resistance will cease permanently offensive military activities 
against each other and engage in good faith negotiations towards a 
permanent ceasefire. 
(b) TRANSFER AND USE.—(1) The President is authorized to trans-
fer to the Agency for International Development $17,700,000 of 
unobligated funds from the appropriations accounts specified in 
section 6 to provide assistance for the Nicaraguan democratic resist-
ance in accordance with this joint resolution. Funds so transferred 
shall remain available through September 30, 1988. 
(2) The amount which is authorized to be transferred under 
paragraph (1) shall be reduced by the cost to the United States 
Government of any items or services described in subsection (c)(1) 
which were previously, specifically authorized by law for the Nica-
PUBLIC LAW 100-276—APR. 1, 1988 
102 STAT. 63 
raguan democratic resistance and which are dehvered to the Nica-
raguan democratic resistance under subsection (e). 
(c) DESCRIPTION OF ASSISTANCE ALLOWED.—(1) As used in this 
section, "assistance" means only food, clothing, shelter, medical 
services, medical supplies, and payment for such items or services. 
(2) The term "assistance" under this section also includes, to the 
extent consistent with the Sapoa Agreement, the use of not to 
exceed $1,500,000 of the funds made available under subsection (b) 
for the purchase of communications equipment. 
(d) LIMITATIONS.—The amount of funds transferred under subsec-
tion (b) which is obligated each month for purchasing items and 
services described in subsection (c)(1)— 
(1) for April and May 1988, shall not exceed $2,900,000, of 
which not less than $400,000 each month shall be available only 
for medical supplies and medical services; and 
(2) for any month thereafter, shall not exceed $2,700,000, 
except that each such amount for any month shall be reduced by the 
cost to the United States Government of the items and services 
described in subsection (c)(1) (medical supplies and medical services 
in the case of the second amount specified in paragraph (1)) which 
were previously, specifically authorized by law for the Nicaraguan 
democratic resistance and which are delivered to the Nicaraguan 
democratic resistance under subsection (e) during that month. 
(e) TRANSPORTATION.—(1) The President shall transfer to the 
President of U.S. 
Agency for International t)evelopment, from unobligated funds from 
the appropriations accounts specified, in section 6, such funds as 
may be necessary to provide, to the extent consistent with the Sapoa 
Agreement, transportation for the assistance authorized by subsec-
tion (b), including rental and indemnification of aircraft, trucks or 
other vehicles, and transportation for the items and services 
described in paragraph (3) of this subsection. 
(2) Transportation provided under this subsection may not be used 
to deliver any assistance for the Nicaraguan democratic resistance 
other than the assistance authorized by subsection (b) and the items 
and services described in paragraph (3) of this subsection. 
(3) Transportation may be provided under this subsection for 
items and services described in subsection (c)(1) which were pre-
viously, specifically authorized by law for the Nicaraguan demo-
cratic resistance. 
(f) PROHIBITIONS.—(1) Funds transferred by subsections (b) or (e) 
may not be obligated or expended to purchase aircraft or weapons, 
weapons systems, or ammunition or any other item or service not 
permitted under subsection (c) or to provide any transportation 
other than transportation permitted under subsection (e). 
(2) Except for items delivered under subsection (e)(3), no item 
authorized by "Title II—Central America" in section lOl(k) of the 
continuing appropriations resolution for the fiscal year 1987 (Public 
Laws 99-500 and 99-591) or section H I of the joint resolution 
making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1988 
(Public Law 100-202) may be provided to the Nicaragua democratic 
resistance. 
(g) ASSISTANCE FOR YATAMA.—(1) In order to support all elements Indians, 
of the Nicaraguan democratic resistance, assistance authorized by 
subsection (b) (including the cost of the United States Government of 
items and services delivered under subsection (e)(3)) in the amount 
of $2,190,000 shall be provided only to the Indian resistance force 
known as Yatama. 
102 STAT. 64 
PUBLIC LAW 100-276—APR. 1, 1988 
(2) The Agency for International Development shall ensure that 
assistance under this subsection for Yatama is provided consistent 
with the Preliminary Accord signed by Yatama and the Govern-
ment of Nicaragua on February 2, 1988, and any subsequent agree-
ment based on that Accord. 
SEC. 4. DIRECTION, MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY.—(a) DELIVERY OF 
ASSISTANCE.—(1) The Agency for International Development shall 
direct, manage and provide for the delivery of assistance and sup-
port to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance through 
neutral 
organizations 
consistent 
with the Sapoa 
Agreement 
and as 
authorized by this joint resolution. 
President of U.S. 
(2) The President shall transfer not to exceed $2,500,000 from the 
unobligated funds in the appropriations accounts specified in section 
6 for "Operating Expenses of the Agency for International Develop-
ment" to meet the necessary administrative expenses to carry out 
the purposes of this joint resolution. 
(b) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROHIBITIONS.—Prohibitions on 
the furnishing of foreign assistance to Nicaragua shall not be con-
strued to apply to the provision within Nicaragua of the assistance 
authorized by this joint resolution. 
(c) ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS, PROCEDURES, AND CONTROLS.—In 
implementing this joint resolution, the Agency for International 
Development shall adopt standards, procedures, and controls for the 
accountability of funds comparable to those applicable with respect 
to the assistance for the Nicaraguan democratic resistance provided 
under section 111 of the joint resolution making further continuing 
appropriations for the fiscal year 1988 (Public Law 100-202). 
(d) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.—All Government agencies shall 
cooperate with the Agency for International Development to ensure 
the orderly, effective direction, management, and delivery by the 
Agency of assistance for the Nicaraguan democratic resistance. 
Such cooperation shall include detailing to the Agency, on a 
reimbursable basis, such personnel as the Agency, with the approval 
of the President, may request. 
(e) SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITIES.—In addition to the authorities 
otherwise available by law to the Agency for International Develop-
ment, in carrying out this joint resolution, the Agency for Inter-
national Development may exercise the same authorities, including 
authorities relating to procurement and expenditure of Government 
funds other than confidential funds, as the agency administering the 
assistance provided pursuant to section 111 of the joint resolution 
making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1988 
(Public Law 100-202) could exercise with respect to provision of that 
assistance. 
SEC. 
5. GENERAL AUTHORITIES AND LIMITATIONS.—(a) 
REQUIRE-
MENTS DEEMED SATISFIED.—The requirements, terms and conditions 
of section 104 of the Intelligence Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1988 
(Public Law 100-178), section 8144 of the Department of Defense 
Appropriations Act, 1988 (as contained in section 101(b) of Public 
Law 100-202), section 10 of Public Law 91-672, section 502 of the 
National Security Act of 1947, section 15(a) of the State Department 
Basic Authorities Act of 1956, and any other provision of law shall 
be deemed to have been met for the transfer and use, consistent 
with the provisions of this joint resolution, of the funds made 
available by this joint resolution. 
(b) CONTINUATION OF LIMITATIONS.—Sections 203(e), 204(b), 207, 
209(b), 209(c), and 216 in "Title II—Central America" in section 
PUBLIC LAW 100-276—APR. 1, 1988 
102 STAT. 65 
lOl(k) of the continuing appropriations resolution for the fiscal year 
1987 (Public Laws 99-500 and 99-591), shall apply with respect to 
funds made available by this joint resolution, except that section 216 
shall not apply with respect to personnel of the Agency for Inter-
national Development or the Department of State. 
SEC. 6. DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACCOUNTS.—The appropriations 
accounts to which this resolution refers are the following accounts 
in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1986, as con-
tained in section 101(b) of the further continuing appropriations 
resolution for the fiscal year 1986 (Public Law 99-190): 
(1) Missile Procurement, Army; 
(2) Other, Procurement, Army; 
(3) Other Procurement, Navy; 
(4) Missile Procurement, Air Force; 
(5) Aircraft Procurement, Air Force; and 
(6) Weapons Procurement, Navy; 
except that section 1351 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 1987 (Public Law 99-661) shall apply. 
SEC. 7. AUDIT OF FUNDS.—The Comptroller General shall conduct 
an independent audit of funds expended in the provision of assist-
ance and support under this joint resolution. 
SEC. 8. CHILDREN'S SURVIVAL ASSISTANCE.—(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 
The President shall transfer to the Agency for International Devel- President of U.S. 
opment $17,700,000 of unobligated funds from the appropriations 
accounts specified in section 6 to provide medical care and other 
relief for children who are victims of the Nicaraguan civil strife. 
Such assistance shall be used to make available prosthetic devices 
and rehabilitation, provide medicines and immunizations, assist 
burn victims, help children who have been orphaned, and otherwise 
provide assistance for children who have been physically injured or 
displaced by the Nicaraguan civil strife. Priority shall be given to 
those children with the greatest needs for assistance. Funds trans-
ferred pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until 
expended. 
(b) USE OF PVO'S AND INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS.— 
Assistance pursuant to this section shall be provided only through 
nonpolitical private and voluntary organizations and international 
relief organizations. Preference in the distribution of such assistance 
shall be given to organizations presently providing similar services 
such as the Catholic Relief Services, International Committee of the 
Red Crogs, CARE, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations 
High Commissioner for Refugees, Partners of the Americas, and the 
Pan-American Health Organization. 
(c) CHILDREN IN NICARAGUA.—At least one-half of the assistance 
provided under this section shall be provided through nonpolitical 
private and voluntary organizations and international 
relief 
organizations operating inside Nicaragua. None of this assistance 
may be provided to or through the Government of Nicaragua. 
102 STAT. 66 
PUBLIC LAW 100-276—APR. 1, 1988 
President of U.S. 
SEC. 9. VERIFICATION COMMISSION.—The President shall transfer 
to the Agency for International Development $10,000,000 of unobli-
gated funds from the appropriations accounts specified in section 6 
for periodic payments to support the activities of the Verification 
Commission established by the Sapoa Agreement. Funds transferred 
pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended. 
Approved April 1, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 523: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988): 
Mar. 30, considered and passed House. 
Mar. 31, considered and passed Senate.