PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 485.
Congressional Research Service
Version 18 · Reported to House amended, Part I · Mar 2, 1998
African Growth and Opportunity Act - Declares the support of the Congress for the economic self-reliance of Sub-Saharan African countries committed to economic and political reform, market incentives and private sector growth, eradication of poverty, and the importance of women to economic growth and development. (Sec. 4) Makes a sub-Saharan African country eligible to participate in programs, projects, or activities, or receive assistance or other benefits under this Act if the President determines, according to specified evidence, that it does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, and has established, or is making continual progress toward establishing, a market-based economy. Directs the President to monitor and review the progress of sub-Saharan African countries to determine their current or potential eligibility under the requirements of this Act. Makes ineligible to participate in programs or receive assistance or other benefits under this Act any countries that have not made progress in meeting such requirements. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a sub-Saharan African country should not be eligible to participate in programs, projects, or activities, or receive assistance or other benefits under this Act if the President determines that its government engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. (Sec. 5) Expresses the sense of the Congress that sustained economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa depends upon the development of a receptive environment for trade and investment through the continued support by the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) of programs that help to create this environment. Sets forth declarations of policy with respect to assistance provided to sub-Saharan Africa through the Development Fund for Africa and the African Development Foundation. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide for: (1) additional program authorities to include assistance to promote democratization and strengthen conflict resolution; and (2) presidential waivers of provisions earmarking funds for a specified country, organization, or purpose (except those for certain child survival activities) if such a waiver would provide improved conditions for the African people. (Sec. 6) Directs the President to convene annual high-level meetings between U.S. Government officials and officials of the governments of sub-Saharan African countries to foster close economic ties between them. Directs the President to establish a United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum. Directs the United States Information Agency (USIA), in order to assist the Forum, to disseminate economic information in support of the free market economic reforms contained in this Act. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 7) Directs the President to develop a plan meeting certain requirements to enter into one or more trade agreements with certain eligible sub-Saharan African countries to establish a United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Free Trade Area. (Sec. 8) Expresses the sense of the Congress that reform of trade policies in sub-Saharan Africa that removes structural impediments to trade, consistent with the World Trade Organization (WTO), can lay the groundwork for sustained growth there in both textile and apparel exports. Directs the United States, pursuant to the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, to eliminate the existing quotas on textile and apparel exports to the United States from Kenya and Mauritius, provided they adopt a visa system to guard against the unlawful transshipment of such goods. Directs the President to: (1) continue the existing no quota policy for sub-Saharan African countries; and (2) report to the Congress on the growth in textiles and apparel exports to the United States from such countries in order to protect U.S. consumers, workers, and textile manufacturers from economic injury on account of the no quota policy. (Sec. 9) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the President to provide duty-free treatment for any non-import-sensitive article that is the growth, product, or manufacture of an eligible sub-Saharan African beneficiary developing country. Waives the competitive need limitation with respect to eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Extends duty-free treatment to sub-Saharan African beneficiary developing countries through May 31, 2007. (Sec. 10) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to use their votes to encourage their institutions to develop enhanced mechanisms which further economic and trade reforms and deep debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt initiative in eligible sub-Saharan African countries; and (2) relief provided to such countries under the HIPC debt initiative should primarily be made through grants rather than through extended-term debt, with interim financing for eligible countries that establish a strong record of macroeconomic reform. Supports and encourages the implementation of specified initiatives through AID and the Trade Development Agency, including: (1) the formation of American-African business partnerships; (2) technical assistance to promote trade reforms; (3) agricultural market liberalization; (4) trade promotion; and (5) trade in services. (Sec. 11) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) should exercise its authorities to initiate two or more equity funds in support of projects in sub-Saharan African countries, particularly projects that expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs and employment for the poor. (Sec. 12) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the Board of Directors of OPIC to increase financial assistance in sub-Saharan Africa. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to make similar changes with respect to the Export-Import Bank of the United States. (Sec. 13) Directs the President to establish the position of Assistant United States Trade Representative within the Office of the United States Trade Representative to focus on trade issues relating to sub-Saharan Africa. (Sec. 14) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service should expand its presence in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing the number of posts and personnel it allocates to sub-Saharan Africa.
People & committees
Rep. Crane, Philip M. [R-IL-8] · R–IL
Legislative record
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Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 485.
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Received in the Senate.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 233 - 186 (Roll No. 47).
House roll call 47 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 233 - 186 (Roll No. 47).
House roll call 47 · Individual votesOn motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 193 - 224 (Roll No. 46). (consideration: CR H1077-1083)
House roll call 46 · Individual votesThe previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the motion.
Mr. Bishop moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1432.
The Chair announce that consideration would resume on those amendments on which further proceedings had been postponed, in the following order: the Waters amendment No. 2 and the Bereuter amendment No. 6.
At the conclusion of debate, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the Bereuter amendment and announced that, by voice vote, the amendment was agreed to. Mr. Payne requested a recorded vote and, pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 383, further proceedings were postponed.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 383, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Bereuter amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 383, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Davis (IL) amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 383, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 383, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate.
At the conclusion of debate, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the Waters amendment and announced that, by voice vote, the amendment was not agreed to. Ms. Waters requested a recorded vote and, pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 383, further proceedings were postponed.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 383, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 383, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with two hours of general debate.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Vince Snowbarger to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 383 and Rule XXIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1432 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill and modified by the amendments printed in part 1 of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Only those amendments printed in part II of the report accompanying this resolution (H. Rpt. 105-431) shall be in order.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 383. (consideration: CR H1037-1084)
Rule H. Res. 383 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 383 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1432 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill and modified by the amendments printed in part 1 of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Only those amendments printed in part II of the report accompanying this resolution (H. Rpt. 105-431) shall be in order.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 241.
Committee on Banking and Financial Services discharged.
Committee on Banking and Financial Services discharged.
House Committee on Banking and Financial Services Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than March 2, 1998.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 105-423, Part II.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 105-423, Part II.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 105-423, Part I.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 105-423, Part I.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Referred to House Banking and Financial Services
Referred to House Ways and Means
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Banking and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to House International Relations
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E751)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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