Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996
PL 104-319 (H.R.4036), enacted 10/19/1996

110 STAT. 3864 
PUBLIC LAW 104-319—OCT. 19, 1996 
Public Law 104-319 
104th Congress 
Oct. 19, 1996 
[H.R. 4036] 
Human Rights, 
Refugee, and 
Other Foreign 
Relations 
Provisions Act of 
1996. 
22 u s e 2151 
note. 
An Act 
Making certain provisions with respect to internationally recognized human rights, 
refugees, and foreign relations. 
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 "Human Rights, Refugee, and 
Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996". 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents of this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—FOREIGN RELATIONS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 101. Extension of certain adjudication provisions. 
Sec. 102. Conduct of certain educational and cultural exchange programs. 
Sec. 103. Educational and cultural exchanges and scholarships for Tibetans and 
Burmese. 
Sec. 104. Intemat..onal Boundary and Water Commission. 
TITLE II—FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS 
Sec. 201. Human rights reports. 
Sec. 202. Assistance for Mauritania. 
TITLE III—CLAIBORNE PELL INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
AND PUBLIC POLICY 
Sec. 301. Short title. 
Sec. 302. Grant authorized. 
Sec. 303. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 304. Effective date. 
TITLE IV—GEORGE BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC 
SERVICE 
Sec. 401. Short title. 
Sec. 402. Grant authorized. 
Sec. 403. Grant conditions. 
Sec. 404. Appropriations authorized. 
Sec. 405. Effective date. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 501. Edmund S. Muskie Foundation. 
Sec. 502. Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation grant. 
PUBLIC LAW 104-319—OCT. 19, 1996 
110 STAT. 3865 
TITLE I—FOREIGN RELATIONS 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN ADJUDICATION PROVISIONS. 
The Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and 
Related 
Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 (Public Law 101-167) is 
amended— 
(1) in section 599D (8 U.S.C. 1157 note)— 
(A) in subsection (b)(3), by striking "and 1996" and 
inserting "1996, and 1997"; and 
(B) in subsection (e), by striking out "October 1, 1996" 
each place it appe£irs and inserting "October 1, 1997"; 
and 
(2) in section 599E (8 U.S.C. 1255 note) in subsection 
(b)(2), by striking out "September 30, 1996" and inserting 
"September 30,1997". 
SEC. 102. CONDUCT OF CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL 22USC2452 
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS. 
note. 
In carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchsinge 
in countries whose people do not fiilly enjoy freedom and democracy 
(including but not limited to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet, 
and Burma), the Director of the United States Information Agency 
shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participa-
tion in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders 
of such countries. 
SEC. 103. EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND SCHOLAR-
SHIPS FOR TIBETANS AND BURMESE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE 
FOR TIBETANS.—The Director of the United States Information 
Agency shall establish programs of educational and cultural 
exchange between the United States and the people of Tibet. Such 
programs shall include opportunities for training and, as the 
Director considers appropriate, may include the assignment of 
personnel and resources abroad. 
(b) SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TIBETANS AND BURMESE.— 
(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations, for fiscal 
year 1997 at least 30 scholarships shall be made available 
to Tibetan students and professionals who are outside Tibet, 
and at least 15 scholarships shall be made available to Burmese 
students and professionals who are outside Burma. 
(2) WAIVER.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the extent 
that the Director of the United States Information Agency 
determines that there are not enough qualified students to 
fulfill such allocation requirement. 
(3) SCHOLARSHIP DEFINED.—For the purposes of this sec-
tion, the term "scholarship" means an amount to be used for 
full or partigil support of tuition suid fees to attend an edu-
cational institution, and may include fees, books, and supplies, 
equipment required for courses at an educational institution, 
living expenses at a United States educational institution, and 
travel expenses to and from, and within, the United States. 
110 STAT. 3866 
PUBLIC LAW 104-319—OCT. 19, 1996 
SEC. 104. INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION. 
The Act of May 13, 1924 (49 Stat. 660, 22 U.S.C. 277-277f), 
is amended in section 3 (22 U.S.C. 277b) by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
"(d) Pursuant to the authority of subsection (a) and in order 
to facilitate further compliance with the terms of the Convention 
for Equitable Distribution of the Waters of the Rio Grande, May 
21, 1906, United States-Mexico, the Secretary of State, acting 
through the United States Commissioner of the International 
Boundary and Water Commission, may make improvements to the 
Rio Grande Canalization Project, originally authorized by the Act 
of August 29, 1935 (49 Stat. 961). Such improvements may include 
all such works as may be needed to stabilize the Rio Grande 
in the reach between the Percha Diversion Dam in New Mexico 
and the American Diversion Dam in El Paso.". 
TITLE II—FOREIGN ASSISTANCE 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 201. HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS. 
(a) SECTION 116 REPORT.—Section 116(d) of the Foreign Assist-
ance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking "and" at the end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new para-
graphs: 
"(3) the votes of each member of the United Nations 
Commission on Human Rights on all country-specific and 
thematic resolutions voted on at the Commission's annual ses-
sion during the period covered during the preceding year; 
"(4) the extent to which each country has extended protec-
tion to refugees, including the provision of first asylum and 
l*6S6^t/l6Itl6Ilty* 3.11(1" 
(b) SECTION'502B REPORT.—Section 502B(b) of such Act (22 
U.S.C. 2304(b)) is amended by adding sifter the second sentence 
the following new sentence: "Each report under this section shall 
list the votes of each member of the United Nations Commission 
on Human Rights on all country-specific and thematic resolutions 
voted on at the Commission's annual session during the period 
covered during the preceding year.". 
22 use 2151 
SEC. 202. ASSISTANCE FOR MAURITANIA. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—The President should not provide economic 
assistance, military assistance or arms transfers to the Government 
of Mauritania unless the President certifies to the Congress that 
such Government has taken appropriate action to eliminate chattel 
slavery in Mauritania, including— 
(1) the enactment of anti-slavery laws that provide appro-
priate punishment for violators of such laws; and 
(2) the rigorous enforcement of such laws. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
(1) ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE.—The term "economic assist-
ance" means any assisteuice under part I of the Foreign Assist-
ance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), except that such 
term does not include humanitarian assistance. 
PUBLIC LAW 104-319—OCT. 19, 1996 
110 STAT. 3867 
(2) MILITARY ASSISTANCE OR ARMS TRANSFERS.—The term 
"military assistance or arms transfers" means— 
(A) assistance under chapter 2 of part II of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2311 et seq.; relating 
to military assistance), including the transfer of excess 
defense articles under sections 516 through 519 of that 
Act (22 U.S.C. 2321J through 2321m); 
(B) assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.; relating 
to international military education and training); 
(C) assistance under the "Foreign Military Financing 
Program" under section 23 of the Arms Export Control 
Act (22 U.S.C. 2763); or 
(D) the trsinsfer of defense articles, defense services, 
or design and construction services under the Arms Export 
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), including defense 
articles and defense services licensed or approved for export 
imder section 38 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2778). 
TITLE III—CLAIBORNE PELL INSTITUTE 
FOR 
INTERNATIONAL 
RELATIONS 
AND PUBLIC POLICY 
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "Claiborne Pell Institute for 
International Relations and Public Policy Act", 
SEC. 302. GRANT AUTHORIZED. 
In recognition of the public service of Senator Claiborne Pell, 
the Secretary of Education is authorized to award a grant, in 
accordance with the provisions of this title, to assist in the establish-
ment and operation of the Claiborne Pell Institute for International 
Relations and Public Policy, located at Salve Regina University, 
Newport, Rhode Island, including the purchase and renovation of 
facilities to house the Institute. 
SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1997 
such sums, not to exceed $3,000,000, as may be necessary to carry 
out this title. 
SEC. 304. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This title shall take effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
TITLE IV—GEORGE BUSH SCHOOL OF 
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE 
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "George Bush School of Govern-
ment and Public Service Act". 
SEC. 402. GRANT AUTHORIZED. 
In recognition of the public service of President George Bush, 
the Secret£iry of Education is authorized to make a grant in accord-
Claibome Pell 
Institute for 
International 
Relations and 
Public Policy Act. 
Rhode Island. 
George Bush 
School of 
Government and 
Public Service 
Act. 
Texas. 
110 STAT. 3868 
PUBLIC LAW 104-319—OCT. 19, 1996 
ance with the provisions of this Act to assist in the estabUshment 
of the George Bush Fellowship Program, located at the George 
Bush School of Government and Public Service of the Texas 
A & M University. 
SEC. 403. GRANT CONDITIONS. 
No payment may be made under this title except upon an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing or accom-
panied by such information as the Secretary of Education may 
require. 
SEC. 404. APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums, not to 
exceed $3,000,000, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this title. 
SEC. 405. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This title shall take effect on October 1, 1996. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Washington, DC. 
SEC. 501. EDMUND S. MUSKIE FOUNDATION. 
In recognition of the public service of Senator and Secretary 
of State Edmund S. Muskie, the Secretary of Education is author-
ized to award a grant in accordance with the provisions of this 
Act to assist in the establishment of the Edmund S. Muskie Founda-
tion, located in Washington, D.C., by providing assistance to support 
the Foundation, including assistance to be used for awarding 
stewardships, supporting the Muskie archives, and supporting the 
Edmund S. Muskie Institute of Public Affairs. 
SEC. 502. CALVIN COOLIDGE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION GRANT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) FOUNDATION.—The term "Foundation" means the Calvin 
Coolidge Memorial Foundation. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means the Secretary 
of Education. 
(b) GRANT AUTHORIZED.—^The Secretary is authorized to make 
a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 in accordance with the provi-
sions of this section to the Foundation. 
(c) GRANT CONDITIONS.— 
(1) APPLICATION.—No payment may be made under this 
section except upon an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing or accompanied by such information 
as the Secretary may require. 
PUBLIC LAW 104-319—OCT. 19, 1996 
110 STAT. 3869 
(2) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Funds received under this 
section may be used for any of the following purposes: 
(A) To increase the endowment of the Foundation. 
(B) To conduct educational, archival, or preservation 
activities of the Foundation. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary $1,000,000, without fiscal year 
limitation, to carry out the provisions of this section. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect on October 
1,1996. 
Approved October 19, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4036: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 142 (1996): 
Sept. 25, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 3, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Oct. 4, House concurred in Senate amendments.