PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 24, 1998
International Responsibility and Self-Sufficiency Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish an index of economic freedom to evaluate annually the level of economic freedom of countries receiving U.S. development assistance. Directs the Secretary of State, while using such index, to review specified trade and economic factors with respect to each country and assign a specific numerical rating for each factor to determine an average score for each country (one for the highest and five for the lowest level of economic freedom). (Sec. 4) Directs the President, in conjunction with the submission of annual requests for authorizations and appropriations for foreign assistance programs, to submit to the Congress a ranking by category based upon the index of economic freedom for each country for which U.S. development assistance is requested for the fiscal year. Sets forth a methodology for the phase-out of U.S. development assistance to countries based on their ranking under the annual index of economic freedom. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution to use the U.S. vote to oppose the provision of assistance (except disaster assistance), directly or indirectly, by the institution to the government, any citizen, or any entity of any country which is denied assistance under this Act. Requires the withholding of U.S. payments to any institution that provides assistance to countries ineligible to receive U.S. development assistance under this Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that each international financial institution should establish an index of economic freedom and implement a phase-out of assistance based on such index similar to those established under this Act. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) withdraw the United States from an international financial institution as soon as it is determined that U.S. development assistance may not be provided to a country to which such institution may provide assistance; and (2) negotiate an agreement on the method of settling accounts with the institution.
People & committees
Rep. Solomon, Gerald B. H. [R-NY-22] · R–NY
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy.
Referred to House Banking and Financial Services
Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on 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
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.3256 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.3256 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.3256 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.3256 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.