PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 106.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 10, 1999
Silk Road Strategy Act of 1999 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize specified assistance, including humanitarian, economic, migration and refugee, development, border control, and democracy building assistance to the South Caucasus and Central Asia countries to: (1) promote sovereignty, independence with democratic government, and respect for human rights; (2) assist in the resolution of regional conflicts and facilitate the removal of impediments to cross-border commerce; (3) promote economic cooperation and market-oriented principles; (4) assist in the development of infrastructure necessary for communications, transportation, education, health, and energy and trade on an East-West axis in order to build strong relations and commerce between those countries and the democratic, market-oriented countries of the Euro-Atlantic community; and (5) support U.S. business interests and investments in the region. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should use all diplomatic means to press for an equitable, fair, and permanent resolution to the conflicts in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Prohibits, with specified exceptions, assistance to the governments of the South Caucasus and Central Asia if the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that they: (1) are engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; (2) have knowingly transferred controlled missiles or missile technology to another country, or any equipment or technology that would contribute to the ability of such country to manufacture weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons); (3) have repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism; or (4) are prohibited from receiving such assistance by specified Acts. Amends the Freedom Support Act to waive the restriction on assistance to Azerbaijan if the President certifies to Congress that such restriction would not be in the national interest of the United States.
People & committees
Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS] · R–KS
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 106.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported to Senate by Senator Helms without amendment. With written report No. 106-45. Minority views filed.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported to Senate by Senator Helms without amendment. With written report No. 106-45. Minority views filed.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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